Brussels, 10/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - At their 7th Association Council meeting on Tuesday 11 November, Tunisia and the EU will take stock of the essentially economic cooperation that is seen as exemplary. It is hoped, too, that Tunisia will push on more enthusiastically with its political and judicial reforms.
Tunisia, the first country to sign an association agreement currently has full industrial free trade with the EU and, according to the Europeans, receives considerable European financial aid, bearing witness to the “maturity” of the cooperation. However, Tunis is hoping for more decisive economic assistance to allow its full economic take-off. The response is that a high level of pay-outs requires the pursuit of economic, administrative and sectoral reforms, and continuing improvement of the management of public finances. The EU stresses that, to be long-lasting, all economic and social development depends, too, on the political environment. Thus, the EU is encouraging the Tunisian government to increase its efforts towards good governance and towards political reforms promoting multi-party democracy and consolidating the rule of law. Overall, the EU notes with satisfaction the fine performance of the Tunisian economy and welcomes, too, that policies bringing macro-economic stability and budgetary rigour are being pursued. However, the Tunisian economy still, Europe says, has to meet serious challenges, particularly in the light of the current international economic situation.
Tunisia does not seek any particular, or “advanced” (according to Moroccan terminology), status, but, if the European Commission is to be believed, it is in the vanguard in several areas that respond to the real needs of the country. The EU says that the current cooperation framework provides new prospects of coming further into line with the Community, which would require institutional and political rapprochement that could affect several sectors of activity, such as trade, the environment, maritime policy and fisheries, transport and energy, for example. Both sides have agreed to study the possibility of Tunisia's taking part in the work of Community agencies and programmes, with involvement being phased in and dependent on progress in implementing the action plan. With a view to strengthening relations, the EU is offering Tunisia the opportunity to align itself, on, a case by case basis, with the European stances taken in matters relating to the CFSP. Lastly, the EU would like to see Tunisia play an active role in implementing the joint EU-Africa strategy. (F.B./transl.rt)