In search of solutions in the fight against increasing migration, European leaders are holding talks in Tunisia today. President Saied said beforehand that his country would not be a border police force for Europe.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the heads of government of the Netherlands and Italy are traveling to Tunisia today for talks on how to deal with migration. In the capital, Tunis, they want to discuss the problem with President Kais Saied.
The number of people coming to the EU from the North African country has risen sharply in recent months. Italy is the destination for most migrants on their way from Tunisia to Europe. According to official figures from the Ministry of the Interior in Rome, more than 53,800 migrants have reached Italy on boats 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 migrants registered in Italy came from Tunisia.
At the beginning of the week, Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni discussed the migration crisis with the Tunisian President. “Destabilization in Tunisia” would have “serious repercussions on the stability of all of North Africa,” she warned.
Tunisia to receive IMF aid
Meloni suggested paying countries like Tunisia to consistently prevent migrant boats from leaving for Italy and thus for the European Union. The EU had agreed something similar with Turkey in 2016. The pact between Brussels and Ankara led to a sharp drop in refugees arriving in Europe. According to Melonis, at today’s meeting in Tunis initiatives will be presented to improve security in the country and to help Tunisia receive aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Economy on the verge of collapse
In February, President Saied announced tougher action against migrants and accused them of bringing violence and crime into the country. Hostilities and racist attacks have increased sharply since then. This is one of the reasons why many people want to move on to Europe as quickly as possible. In addition to migrants from countries south of the Sahara, more and more Tunisians are crossing over to Italy from the coast of their homeland. In view of the worsening economic crisis and high unemployment, many no longer see any prospects in Tunisia.
Saied criticized the conditions for aid from the IMF. Among other things, Tunisia is to cut subsidies for flour and fuel, downsize the large sector of public administration and privatize state-owned companies. The changes could lead to social unrest, Saied said.
The Tunisian President said in the run-up to the talks after a visit to the coastal town of Sfax, from where boats with migrants regularly leave, his country will not be a border police force for Europe. Issues related to dealing with migrants must be resolved in a humanitarian and collective manner and in accordance with applicable law, Saied said, according to his office. Migrants are “unfortunately victims of a global system that treats them not as people but as mere numbers”.
On Thursday, the EU interior ministers agreed on a reform of the European asylum rules. In the future, migrants from countries that – like Tunisia – are considered safe should come to reception facilities after crossing the border and remain there under prison-like conditions while their prospects of staying are examined. If the people do not receive asylum, they should be sent back immediately. It is possible that the EU Parliament will push through changes to the planned reform.
Greater cooperation on energy issues planned
The meeting in Tunis, which will also be attended by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte alongside von der Leyen and Meloni, will also be about closer cooperation in the areas of business and energy. The EU wants to become even more independent of Russia when it comes to energy supplies.