The secretary general of the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM), Fathallah Sijilmassi, has expressed his delight at the launch of the project for purifying the water of Lake Bizerte and decontaminating the Mediterranean Sea. This project was officially launched in Tunis on Tuesday 1 November. Those present at the launch included EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and the head the Tunisian government, Youssef Chahed (see EUROPE 11659).
“This is one of the first major Union for the Mediterranean infrastructure projects currently being implemented”, Sijilmassi stated in a press release. He also emphasised the “regional impact” of this five-year project funded for €90 million.
In the view of the UfM, this “flagship initiative successfully combines the cooperation efforts made within the Euro-Mediterranean region in favour of regional integration and stability. Implementation of this initiative will directly improve the living conditions for 500,000 people and have positive repercussions on millions of citizens through the decontamination of the Mediterranean Sea. The project will also help create SMEs and job opportunities for our young people and help towards the socio-economic development instability of our region”. (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)