Brussels, 29/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 23 December, the EU and Tunisia signed a cooperation agreement on the field of justice, to support the programme of modernisation of the legal system implemented by the Tunisian government. The aim of the agreement is to reinforce the use of modern working and communication methods, particularly in terms of information technology, according to the official press agency (TAP). It also aims to reinforce the exchange of experience and scientific knowledge between Tunisian magistrates and their European counterparts, and between lawyers, and bailiffs, notaries, legal experts, court clerks and other legal professionals. The agreement also provides for European technical support for the completion of a land register programme, and for the teaching of criminology. This agreement comes after the visit to Tunisia last October for the European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in order to "prepare the ground for the next stages to step up relations with Tunisia in the light of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP)". The EU and Tunisia were to launch an unprecedented programme for the modernisation of justice in 2005, but its implementation has been delayed as Tunisia felt that some of the aspects included in it infringed upon its own sphere of sovereignty.