More than one billion euros in financial aid: this is the “strengthened partnership” offered this Sunday, June 11 by the European Union to Tunisia. “It is in our common interest to strengthen our relationship and to invest in stability and prosperity”, assured from Tunis the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. This check obviously does not come without conditions, even if these are not explicitly mentioned.
The proposed aid consists of “macro-financial assistance which could reach 900 million euros”, as well as potential “additional aid of 150 million euros to be injected into the budget now”, detailed the head of the European Commission. She says she hopes for a bilateral agreement by the end of June with the next European summit.
Timely financial aid
The EU is thus providing support to an ally that needs it: indebted to 80% of its GDP, Tunisia finds itself unable to borrow abroad, which leads to regular shortages of foodstuffs such as flour, sugar and rice, which are purchased by the state. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell was also worried about a potential “risk of collapse” of the country.
But Tunisia has been negotiating for several months a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But nothing moves while President Saied refuses reforms such as a restructuring of the hundred heavily indebted public companies or the lifting of certain state subsidies on basic products. The announced European plan would therefore allow for welcome investments, particularly in digital technology and renewable energies. Or an extension to Tunisia of the European student exchange program Erasmus, for which 10 million euros are planned.
This financial gift might seem paradoxical if we judge Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed’s recent attacks on democracy and the rule of law. The leader, who granted himself full powers in July 2021, imprisoned a around twenty of political opponents since early February. During the’arrest opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, who led the conservative Islamist party Ennahda, the EU said it was “very concerned” about the deterioration of the Tunisian political situation.
border control
On the migratory side, with this “strengthened partnership”, the EU has its back in the fight against illegal immigration. It will pay “this year to Tunisia 100 million euros for the control of its borders, the search and rescue” of migrants, reported Ursula von der Leyen.
This visit is a “bargain” in order to “give money” to Tunisia in exchange for strengthening the surveillance of its borders, denounces the Tunisian NGO of the Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), in a statement released on Sunday.