Is the migration agreement between Tunisia and the EU about to collapse? After an EU delegation was refused entry to the North African country a few weeks ago, President Saied is now rejecting EU funds as “alms”.
Tunisia has rejected millions of euros in financial aid announced by the EU Commission to help the country fight irregular migration and stabilize its budget. Tunisia “does not accept anything that resembles grace or alms,” President Kais Saied said in a meeting with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar.
“Tunisia rejects what the European Union has announced in recent days,” Saied said on Facebook, according to a statement from the presidential office. “Not because of the small amount,” but because the proposal contradicts the previously signed declaration of intent between Tunisia and the EU. What exactly Tunis sees as a contradiction was not stated.
According to the news site “Politico”, representatives of the government in Tunis are said to have expressed anger at EU MPs who had criticized regressions with regard to democracy in Tunisia. According to critics, Saied is ruling there in an increasingly authoritarian style.
127 million euros for the economy and migration
The EU Commission announced a week ago that it would pay Tunisia around 127 million euros to reduce migration across the country and stimulate the weakening economy. Around 67 million euros of this are to be made available in connection with a controversial migration agreement. There is also 60 million euros in budget support so that the country can recover from the Corona crisis.
Tunisia is one of the main transit countries for refugees from Africa heading to Europe. Saied’s statements raise doubts as to whether the controversial agreement on migration between Brussels and Tunis will continue to exist.
Doubts about Migration agreement
As part of a corresponding declaration of intent from July, Tunisia is to receive financial aid of up to 900 million euros and in return it will take stronger action against smugglers and illegal crossings. The EU Commission wants to ensure that fewer smuggling boats come to Italy via Tunisia.
Doubts also arose about the agreement when Tunisia refused entry to a delegation from the European Parliament in mid-September. This behavior was “unprecedented” since the revolution in Tunisia in 2011, the delegation said afterwards. There was no justification for the step from the Tunisian side.
Last week, Saied postponed the planned visit of a European Commission delegation to Tunisia. Details of the migration agreement should have been discussed at the meeting.
Thousands of migrants from Tunisia to Lampedusa
In recent months, thousands of people from Africa without papers have come to the Tunisian city of Sfax in order to reach Europe by boat.
On the Italian island of Lampedusa alone, hundreds of people have been arriving in overcrowded boats every day for weeks. The Mediterranean island is only around 140 kilometers east of the Tunisian coast.