In an effort aimed at restoring stability to Tunisia and curbing migration from its shores to Europe, European leaders have pledged more than 1 billion euros in financial aid to the North African country to rescue its unstable economy and better secure its borders.
This comes after the EU’s member countries on Thursday, June 8, 2023, agreed on a plan to share responsibility for migrants entering Europe without authorization. The plan is still in the early stages.
Tunisian President Kais Saied and Tunisian Prime Minister, Najla Bouden met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, June 11, 2023.
Following the discussions, von der Leyen unveiled a five-point package to help Tunisia, which included up to $1.05 billion in aid for the country’s debt-ridden budget. At the upcoming EU summit in late June, the concept would be addressed with all 27 member states, she said.
Additionally, according to von der Leyen, the EU is talking about providing Tunisia with investments in high-speed broadband and other digital infrastructure as well as 300 million euros for projects involving hydrogen and other renewable energy sources.
She added that the plan also allocates 100 million euros for operations along the Tunisian border, including as search-and-rescue efforts and anti-smuggling efforts.
Amid criticism from migrant advocacy groups about forced repatriations and abuses of migrants in Tunisia, von der Leyen and Rutte insisted that the program would respect human rights. With Rutte stating that, the aim is to “kill that cynical business model of the boat smuggler. Migration is at this moment one of the most important issues facing all of us.”
Curbing migration is especially important for Italian President, Giorgia Meloni. Italy is the destination for most Europe-bound migrants leaving from the North African nation.
Meloni welcomed Sunday’s announcements, saying that she hoped they paved the way for Tunisia to receive $1.9 billion in stalled International Monetary Fund support.
Tunisia is a major migratory transit point for sub-Saharan Africans heading for Europe.
“Tunisia is a priority, because destabilization in Tunisia would have serious repercussions on the stability of all Northern Africa, and those repercussions inevitably arrive here,” Meloni stated on Thursday, June 8, 2023.
FTDES Expresses Misgivings Pertaining To Aid Offer
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), which advocates for migrants, expressed concern about the European aid offer.
“Europe has not seen Tunisia as a country in need of cooperation based on genuine democracy guaranteeing rights and freedoms, but merely as an advanced border point requiring more equipment to contain immigration, with the aim that no one should be able to reach Europe.”
“Their visits conceal blackmail and an attempt to haggle: money and aid in exchange for the role of border policeman.”
Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights
Tunisian President Kais Saied did not immediately respond to the European offer.
Nonetheless, he admitted earlier this week that addressing Tunisia’s problems requires not only improved security but also “tools to eliminate misery, poverty and deprivation.″
While focusing on sub-Saharan migrants, he acknowledged that Tunisians too are seeking to emigrate, and are among thousands who drown in the Mediterranean every year. He blamed criminal networks, but also his government’s budget troubles.
