Tunisia: Acting together to provide practical responses to the expectations of the Tunisian people
Today in Brussels, High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini received Khemaies Jhinaoui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia. ‘We wanted to meet today because we feel that 2018 should not be, and cannot be, just another year in our bilateral relations,’ she said at the press briefing following the meeting.
The High Representative confirmed how important is was for the European Union to support Tunisia. ‘Over the past few years, and in particular since the launch of our Privileged Partnership in 2012, we have been able to forge a strategic relationship in a large number of areas. Tunisia’s stability and its full transition to democracy are of priority concern to the European Union, and I want to confirm to the Minister and to the Tunisian people that we will always be by Tunisia’s side. We see this not only as a sign of friendship: it is also in the interests of the European Union and of all Europeans to invest in Tunisia and in the Tunisian people to ensure that the transition to democracy is the success the country deserves.’
Ms Mogherini highlighted the significance of EU support to Tunisia’s young people through various programmes and instruments. ‘We want to act together — Tunisia and the European Union — to provide practical responses to the expectations of the Tunisian people, and in particular young people. I am thinking first and foremost here of the implementation of the EU-Tunisia Youth Partnership, with the increase in the number of grants for ‘Erasmus +’ exchanges and our plans to improve vocational training. We will also continue to negotiate agreements on migration and mobility issues and are ready to launch a debate on immediate, specific initiatives such as support for innovation and business start-ups.’
The European Union also wishes to step up its support for Tunisia’s economic transition. ‘We want to become Tunisia’s main partner in its economic transition and to implement a true ‘partnership for growth’ between the EU and Tunisia. This includes the implementation of initiatives that will help Tunisia meet the challenge of opening up and transforming its economy. I am thinking here, for example, of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) and the accompanying measures, the ‘open skies’ agreement, as well as the plethora of measures to support youth employment.’
The European Union and Tunisia will hold their Association Council — their annual political dialogue — this May. The meeting will provide an opportunity to ‘establish the priorities of our privileged partnership for 2018-2020 and, above all, to work on specific projects to support Tunisia and the Tunisian people, and young Tunisians in particular,’ added the High Representative.