On Wednesday 26 June, Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy, signed four new aid programmes for Tunisia, for a total amount of €150 million.
The €70 million Local Governance Support Programme aims to support the country in stimulating local development and reducing regional and local disparities as part of its decentralisation process.
With a budget of €45 million, the programme to support the tourism sector aims to support the diversification of tourism, the development of crafts and the enhancement of cultural heritage. The programme aims to contribute to Tunisia's inclusive and sustainable economic development, according to the Commission.
The third programme 'Venture Tunisia - EU4Innovation', worth €15 million, aims to contribute to the country's inclusive and sustainable economic development by strengthening and structuring the Tunisian innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Finally, the 'Institutional Support Programme for the Tunisian Transition' aims to strengthen the visibility of the EU-Tunisia partnership and to contribute to the country's successful democratic and economic transition. It has a budget of €20 million.
According to the Commission, these programmes will generate economic growth and increase employment opportunities. They will facilitate young Tunisians' access to the labour market, stimulate entrepreneurial innovation and help ensure that local communities are not left behind, it told EUROPE. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)