Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed indicated on Monday evening, October 2, that his country is rejecting the funds provided by the European Union to Tunisia, which, in his opinion, constitute “charity” and whose amount would be “ridiculous” compared to that of July agreement concluded between the two parties.
“Tunisia, which accepts cooperation, does not accept anything that resembles charity or favors, because our country and our people do not want compassion and do not accept it if it is without respect,” he explained, according to a press release from the presidential office. “Consequently, Tunisia rejects what the EU has announced in recent days,” said Saïed, who received his Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar. He explained that this rejection was “not because of the paltry amount (…) but because this proposal violates” the agreement signed in Tunis and “the spirit that prevailed during the Rome Conference” in July.
The European Commission announced on September 22 that it would begin “expeditiously” deploying funds provided under the agreement with Tunisia to reduce the number of migrants from that country. The Commission specified that of the 105 million euros earmarked in this agreement to combat irregular immigration, about 42 million euros would be “made available quickly”. In addition, there are 24.7 million euros that have already been budgeted as part of ongoing programs.
Direct budget support of 150 million euros in 2023
According to the European Commission, the aid must be used in part for the rehabilitation of Tunisian Coast Guard boats and for cooperation with international organizations both for the “protection of migrants” and for return operations of these exiles from Tunisia to their countries of origin. This Memorandum of Understanding between Tunisia and the EU also provides for direct budget support of 150 million euros in 2023, while the country is in serious economic difficulties.
Saïed concluded by adding that his country is “doing everything possible to dismantle criminal human trafficking networks.” Along with Libya, Tunisia is the main departure point for thousands of migrants crossing the central Mediterranean towards Europe and arriving in Italy.