EU to start releasing money to Tunisia under migration pact
By Kanempress
23rd September 2023
The European Union is set to ‘swiftly’ disburse 127 million euros as part of a July deal to halt irregular migration.
The European Union is to start releasing money to Tunisia under a pact aimed at stemming irregular migration from the country.
According to the European Commission a first payment of 127 million euros ($135m) will be disbursed “in the coming days.
The Commission spokesperson, Ana Pisonero said that, of the 127 million euros to be “swiftly” disbursed, 42 million euros ($44.7m) came under the migration aspect of the July deal.
The rest was for previously agreed programmes, with 60 million euros ($63.9m) to help Tunisia with its budget.
Tunisia and the EU had in July reached a “strategic partnership” deal to fight irregular migration in return for financial support during a sharp increase in boats leaving Tunisia for Europe.
Under the agreement signed by commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Tunisia will get 105 million euros ($112m) to curtail irregular migration, 150 million euros ($160m) in budgetary support and 900 million euros ($959m) in long-term aid.
Von der Leyen said at the time of the signature that the deal could serve as a model for agreements with other countries, as the EU struggles to curb unauthorised flows of refugees and migrants across the Mediterranean.
Tunisia is one of the main launching points for boats carrying refugees and migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean for Europe, with most heading for Italy, in particular its island of Lampedusa.
EU lawmakers, the bloc’s ombudsman and migrant assistance charities have questioned whether the deal with Tunisia, strongly supported by Italy’s far-right government, meets European rights standards.
According to an EU statement, it aims to bolster Tunis’s coastguard to prevent boats from leaving its shore by providing new vessels, thermal cameras and other operational assistance as well as refitting search and rescue vessels.
It will also bolster cooperation with the United Nations on the protection of refugees and migrants and their return to their countries of origin.
Some of the money also goes to UN agencies assisting migrants.
Tunisian President Kais Saied had been criticised in Brussels for his authoritarian rule.
The EU ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, had last week tasked the commission to say how the pact with Tunisia will not breach human rights standards..
Tunisia has bristled at the criticism, and last week barred entry to a European Parliament fact-finding delegation.
Tunisia is struggling with high debt and poor liquidity and has suffered bread and power shortages.
Its hopes of accessing a $1.9bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are hobbled by a refusal to undertake IMF-mandated reforms.
