March 29. 2024. 5:37

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European Commission plans migration control, financial aid to Tunisia


The European Commission plans to tackle political and economic instability in Tunisia leading to migration influx caused by economic instability, according to an internal note sent to member states, seen by EURACTIV.

“The deteriorating political and economic situation in the country, marked by rising food prices and high unemployment, is a matter of increasing concern,” the Commission memo says, about the situation in the country, once the poster child of the democratic uprising of the Arab Spring.

Since March, “the situation has deteriorated on the three fronts: the question of the financial sustainability of Tunisia, the question of the political environment, and finally on the migration issue – we have migrants transferred, basically, to Italy”, one EU senior official echoed.

The situation is, therefore, a “matter of high concern”, several EU diplomats said as EU foreign ministers met on Monday (24 March) with Tunisia on their agenda for the second month in a row.

“We are especially focused on the migration front and bringing support to the Tunisian people”, one EU diplomat said.

Border management

According to the memo, the European Commission proposes to tackle the current migration influx from the country into the EU, which has seen a ten-fold increase in irregular arrivals from Tunisia in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

The influx is caused by internal issues, including President Kais Saied hinting that the arrival of sub-Saharan migrants was part of a plot to take over the country.

There is a worry among southern member states that the current conflict in Sudan could jump-start a migratory flux to Northern Africa, including Tunisia, adding more pressure on the systems and the illegal migratory route through the Mediterranean Sea, EURACTIV understands.

At the same time, the European Commission is optimistic about finalising the so-called pact on migration and asylum before next year’s EU elections.

This “considerable recent increase justifies strengthened efforts for cooperation in this area to relieve migratory pressure and save lives at sea”, the Commission says in the memo.

One of the “key areas” of work includes the “reduction of irregular departures by supporting Tunisian border and migration management as well as search and rescue capacities”.

The European Commission plans to use “part” of the additional €110 million European Commission President Von der Leyen indicated the institution would “make available” for projects in North Africa “on top of the planned €208 million to tackle migration-related challenges”.

Democracy campaigners frustrated as EU shies away from criticising Tunisia’s Saied

EU leaders have again shied away from public criticism of Tunisia’s President Kais Saied as the North African country continues to slide towards autocracy ahead of controversial parliamentary elections in December.

The money will be used to fund equipment, the note says, “for example vessels”. The EU executive says there is already a tender “underway for radar equipment to strengthen Tunisia’s coastal surveillance and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre”, the point of contact for incidents at sea (MRCC).

“Efforts for enhanced cooperation with Frontex” the EU border guard agency, among others, are also on the cards the Commission writes, as a way to “increase cooperation on combatting smuggling of migrants and trafficking of human beings”. All the while “ensuring full respect for fundamental rights”.

The EU executive proposes to “seek an increase in patrols and search and rescue while ensuring respect of fundamental rights of migrants”.

Other areas of work include to “explore cooperation” between the Europeans and the Tunisians Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres and exchange of information and planning the repatriation of those who have no right to stay in the EU, whether it is in Tunisia or to other states.

The EU executive also speaks of the need to figure out “an assessment of specific needs” with the Tunisian authorities.

Macro-financial assistance in question

The European Commission is “preparing a substantial” macro-financial assistance package and “is exploring the possibilities for further budget support to Tunisia”, the internal memo says.

But the macro-financial assistance package the bloc could send to Tunisia is “pending Tunisian agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)” over the democracy-conditioned €1,9 billion package, the note indicates.

“We want to work on that we don’t want Tunisia to collapse financially. That would be bad news for everybody. But we need some political preconditions,” the EU official said.

Member states are divided on whether the EU should support Tunis financially without the IMF’s support too.

“Tunisian authorities need to progress toward an agreement with the IMF,” one EU diplomat told EURACTIV. “It is an essential point to allow the EU to move ahead on the economic support”, they said.

On the other hand, member states such as Italy, have been pushing for the EU to step up and for the money to be disbursed even without President Saied’s commitment, allowing for some support to reach the country and avoid bankruptcy.

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