Brussels, 09/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - Visiting Tunis for three days (8-10 February), European Parliament President Martin Schulz gave Tunisia assurances of European solidarity in the trials the country is experiencing. “You can count on the constant mobilisation of the European Union and the active support of the European Parliament”, he promised in a speech he delivered to the Assembly of the People's Representatives in Tunis on Monday.
“Your country emerges today as a model of pluralism and tolerance in the region”, he said. “The Nobel Prize awarded to the National Quartet has crowned this exceptional path of the Tunisian people which demands the admiration and respect of all”.
Schulz is making this visit in order to pay tribute to a Tunisia which was struck by terrorism - at the Bardo Museum and in Sousse - and which is experiencing strong pressure at its borders. He visited the sites of all the attacks and held meetings with the prime minister and parliamentary representation.
In his speech, Schulz promised the European Parliament's support on economic issues and direct European support. He also spoke of the Libyan crisis and, more generally, the “jihadist terrorism (which) is a global phenomenon. But let's keep from false responses, because it would be dangerous to fall into the 'all security' trap”, he said. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)