In Tunisia, pressure is mounting for the country to come to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The European Union fears a collapse of the Tunisian economy in the event of failure to contract the 1.9 billion dollar loan negotiated with the IMF, which could significantly increase migratory tension in Europe. The European commissioner in charge of the economy, Paolo Gentiloni made a visit in this direction on Monday in Tunis.
With our correspondent in Tunis, Lilia Blaise
European Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni insisted on Monday that “ Tunisia will not be left alone “, in his words, particularly in the face of the management of migratory flows. He added the promise of macro-financial assistance from the European Union if the Tunisia manages to finalize a loan agreement with the IMF.
For a week the European Union, France and Italy mobilize to urge Tunisia to move forward with the agreement with the donor, whose negotiations have been on hold since mid-December. France has promised the disbursement of an envelope of 250 million euros under certain conditions, Italy has proposed a European payment of 900 million euros in three tranches, of which 300 million to help immediately.
This aid is conditional on the implementation of reforms to which the Tunisian government has committed to restore public finances : the phasing out of fuel subsidies and the promulgation of the law on the governance of public enterprises. But in Tunisia, while officials meet with European partners, President Kaïs Saïed remains silent on the agreement with the IMF.
A meeting between him and Paolo Gentiloni was scheduled for Monday, but it was canceled without official explanation from Carthage.
Intensa e positiva giornata di colloqui a #Tunisi. Con il Presidente Saied, la Prima Ministra Boudhen, vari ministri e il Governatore della Banca centrale ho discusso della cooperazione economica anche nel quadro delle sfide migratorie. ????
— Paolo Gentiloni (@PaoloGentiloni) March 27, 2023
And the migratory drama continues on the Tunisian coasts. With five shipwrecks in less than two days from Thursday to Saturday, authorities recovered 10 bodies overnight from Saturday to Sunday near Mahdia in the east of the country, while 19 other bodies were recovered by fishing boats, bringing the death toll to 29. 11 other migrants were rescued.