The European Commission announced on Wednesday 23 January a package of financial assistance measures totalling €305 million for Tunisia.
This "recently adopted" aid represents "the highest amount ever allocated under the European Neighbourhood Instrument", the Commission said in its press release.
Of these funds, 70 million will be allocated to the programme to support local governance, in order to help the country boost local development and reduce regional and local disparities. Actions will include improving the living conditions of local populations through better access to basic services, and supporting and strengthening the capacities of stakeholders.
60 million will go to the 'Youth in Action' programme to improve the economic, political and social inclusion of the most vulnerable among Tunisian youth by improving their access to the job market through skills development, investing in culture and sports and improving policy participation of young people at the local level
The EU will use €15 million through the EU4Innovation programme to improve services for start-ups and entrepreneurs and support the implementation of an enabling regulatory environment for innovative entrepreneurship and start-ups.
The remaining €160 million will be used to support key economic sectors, such as the private sector and urban development, culture and tourism, as well as the modernisation and reform of Tunisia's public administration. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)