On Thursday 29 September, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn unveiled a support programme for Tunisia.
A press release explains that in this critical period that the entire region is going through, the EU must adapt its action even better to suit the Tunisian transition, in addition to substantially increasing the support granted over the past two years in the domains of cooperation, trade, industry, education, research and anti-terrorism.
The EU’s offer consists of greater aid for the "Tunisian people" of up to €300 million, and a speeding up of the scheduled series of negotiations. Hahn hopes that a full and expanded free-trade deal (DCFTA) can be concluded by 2020 and that Tunisia can be granted a visa-facilitation agreement. Another priority is improving the framework for acceptance of investment, which currently has "shortcomings". Hahn will attend an international support conference for Tunisia in Tunis on 29 November and the Tunisian president will visit Brussels several days later. Mogherini and Hahn said that cooperation in the domain of security would be key and pointed out that €4 million has already been earmarked for police training. Mobility and immigration are two further key priorities.
This would amount to the EU taking the strategic option of boosting international support for a country facing many problems in a troubled region in addition to its own troubles. Mogherini said the EU was planning to set up a "democratic window" in its neighbourhood.
In addition to the €300 million of non-reimbursable aid, further aid in the form of loans should be forthcoming from European financial institutions, which should mobilise around €80 million a year by 2020, the Commission states. When questioned about this, Mogherini did not deny that this would simply keep the country’s head above water without getting it out of crisis, and on 13 September, the European Parliament said that a genuine Marshall-type plan was needed in addition to the suggestion of converting Tunisia’s vast debt. She said this was why the EU was focusing on young people, which means investing in the future at the same time as responding to the urgent social needs, which themselves impact on security.
The aid will also aim to speed up what Brussels sees as over-tardy reforms, and avoid deterioration in services to the public, said Hahn, adding that the allocated money is not due to be repaid directly but rather through a commitment to ensure stability and reduce unemployment. This will be a crucial counterpart and will mean working with a dynamic Tunisian civil society, promoting good governance through modernisation of Tunisia’s civil service, supporting reform of the security sector, boosting basic public services and fighting corruption, a press release states that was issued by the European Commission that day. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)