EU Economy Commissioner visits Tunisia in the face of economic and migration crises

Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar (right) greets EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni in Tunis, March 27, 2023. © Fethi Belaid / AFP

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2 min

In Tunisia, pressure is mounting for the country to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The European Union fears a collapse of the Tunisian economy if it fails to contract the $1.9 billion loan negotiated with the IMF, which could significantly increase migratory tension in Europe. The European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, paid a visit to this effect on Monday in Tunis.

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With our correspondent in Tunis, Lilia Blaise

The European Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni insisted on Monday that "Tunisia will not be left alone", in his words, especially in the face of the management of migratory flows. He added the promise of macro-financial assistance from the European Union if Tunisia manages to finalize a loan agreement with the IMF.

For the past week, the European Union, France and Italy have been mobilizing to urge Tunisia to move forward with the agreement with the donor, whose negotiations have been pending since mid-December. The France promised the disbursement of an envelope of 250 million euros under certain conditions, Italy proposed a European payment of 900 million euros in three tranches, including 300 million to help immediately.

This aid is conditional on the implementation of reforms on which the Tunisian government has committed itself to restore its public finances: the gradual end 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 explanations 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 coast. With five shipwrecks in less than two days from Thursday to Saturday, authorities recovered 10 bodies in the night 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. Another 11 migrants were rescued.

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  • Tunisia
  • European Union
  • Economy
  • Economic crisis