Tunisia, EU sign memorandum of understanding on comprehensive partnership package

ANKARA

Tunisia and the European Union signed a memorandum of understanding Sunday on a comprehensive partnership package.

“The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, in Team Europe spirit, alongside the President of Tunisia, Kais Saied, have agreed to implement the comprehensive partnership package announced jointly on 11 June 2023,” the European Commission said in a statement.

“The Memorandum of Understanding covers five pillars: macro-economic stability, trade and investment, green energy transition, people-to people contacts, and migration,” it added.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Saied said the “rapprochement between peoples” will be the best outcome of the MOU.

Referring to the issue of irregular migration, he said a migration conference will be held with the participation of the countries of the region in order to find a humanitarian solution to this problem.

“We are considering up to €900 million ($1.01 billion) in macro-financial assistance and up to €150 million in budget support,” von der Leyen said on June 11.

She added that the commission is also considering “increased trade and investment, mutually beneficial energy cooperation, addressing common migration challenges, and bringing our people together.”

In its statement, the European Commission said economic cooperation with Tunisia “will boost growth and prosperity through stronger trade and investment links, promoting opportunities for businesses including small- and medium-sized enterprises.”

“We believe there is enormous potential to generate tangible benefits for the EU and Tunisia,” the statement said.

“The EU and Tunisia share strategic priorities, and in all these areas, we will gain from working together more closely,” it added.