Tunisia and the EU want to work more closely on the area of migration, among other things. The EU pledges financial assistance of up to €900 million.
11/06/2023 | 00:23 minutes
The EU Commission has pledged financial aid of up to €900 million to Tunisia, which is hit hard economically. In view of the growing number of Mediterranean migrants, Brussels also looks forward to working together with Tunisia to take more effective measures against people smugglers and illegal crossings.
For example, a good 100 million euros will be made available for search and rescue operations and the repatriation of migrants, announced the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Sunday in Tunis, after talks with President Kais Saied. This corresponds to three times the amount with which Brussels recently supported Tunis on average each year. Also participating in the meeting were the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte. Meloni, in particular, has long pushed for an agreement with Tunisia to stop migrant boats leaving Tunisia at the start of their journey to southern Italy and therefore the European Union. The far-right politician spoke of an “important first step”.
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Meloni had already visited the president of Tunisia earlier this week to talk about migration. In an interview on Friday night, she expressed the hope that an EU aid package could be brought with her on Sunday.
According to Frontex, the EU border agency, the number of irregular entries into the EU via Tunisia has risen sharply recently. Heavily indebted Tunisia, on the other hand, expects financial support from the EU because of the country’s ongoing economic crisis. The population is struggling with rising prices and food shortages, as well as high unemployment.
Faced with the worsening economic crisis, many Tunisians no longer see prospects in their own country, mainly because the country’s political leadership is unable to find solutions to the problems. More and more Tunisians are therefore crossing into Italy from the coast of their homeland.
The number of refugees from Tunisia is increasing: one reason for this is President Saied’s increasingly autocratic course. The dream of a better life in Europe is big.
04/28/2023 | 02:36 minIn addition, many migrants from other African countries are feeling great pressure to leave Tunisia. Hostilities and racist attacks have risen sharply since President Saied announced tougher action against them in February and accused them of bringing violence and crime to the country. This is one of the reasons why many people want to go to Europe as soon as possible. According to official data from the Ministry of the Interior in Rome, more than 53,800 migrants have arrived in Italy via the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year – in the same period last year there were around 21,700.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the majority of registered migrants in Italy come from Tunisia.
In order to gain support from transit countries, Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has repeatedly suggested paying countries like Tunisia to consistently stop migrant boats from leaving for Italy and therefore the Union. European – similar to what the EU agreed with Turkey in 2016.
In the last four days alone, Tunisian forces have arrested more than 1,800 refugees trying to make the illegal crossing to Europe. Now the voices are getting louder calling for a migration deal with Tunisia.
04/27/2023 | 02:28 minThe pact between Brussels and Ankara has led to a sharp drop in the number of refugees arriving in Europe. On Thursday, EU interior ministers agreed on a reform of European asylum rules. In the future, migrants from countries that – such as Tunisia – are considered safe are expected to arrive at reception facilities after crossing the border and remain there in prison-like conditions while their prospects for stay are examined.
If people are not granted asylum, they must be sent back immediately. It is possible that the EU Parliament will impose changes to the planned reform.