Brussels, 19/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 16-17 June in Brussels, the European Commission and Tunisia held in-depth discussions on Tunisia's anchoring to the European internal market. As one of the EuroMed countries, Tunisia is the first region to have achieved, in January 2008, total liberalisation of industrial trade with the EU. It is even, the Commission states, two years in advance when it comes to the original deadline set for its integration into the internal market mechanisms. Discussions were held during the first meeting of the internal market subcommittee set up by the association agreement and under the ENP (European neighbourhood policy) action plan.
European sources say that the Commission has reaffirmed its support for the economic reforms begun by Tunisia towards consolidating integration to the European economy and single market. This covers movements of goods and mechanisms for regulation (technical standards and regulations for product quality control), the protection of intellectual and industrial property rights (legislative developments, administrative and legal structures for registration, management and implementation of rights, the fight against counterfeiting, administrative cooperation between both parties, and sanctions and border controls). It also covers public procurement (transparency, non-discrimination, competition and access to legal action, etc). Competition policies and consumer protection policies were also on the agenda. Technical cooperation will be engaged within the framework of the mechanisms in force (TAIEX, twinning of administrations, technical assistance, etc). Tunisia also marks its resolve to take part in Community programmes and agencies.
A second meeting was held at the same time, organising a regular “economic dialogue”. For its second sitting, the working group covered general economic prospects and also monetary policy and structural reforms in the management of public finance, internal financial controls, the fight against inflation, incentives to private investment and the safeguard of the business environment in Tunisia. Also on the agenda were reform and improvement to the banking sector, public finance and budgetary procedures. (F.B./transl.jl)