Tunisia forges economic and migration agreement with the European Union

On July 16, Tunisia and the European Union (EU) entered a strategic partnership agreement valued at €1.1 (US$1.21) billion.

The agreement primarily focused on migration management and economic support and outlines measures to counteract human trafficking and reinforce border controls.

The EU plans to designate €100 million specifically for these initiatives in Tunisia.

The collaboration also intends to enhance Tunisia’s macroeconomic stability and expedite progress in trade and the transition to green energy.

The announcement was made during a visit by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, and Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, to Tunisia, where they met with Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed.

The agreement, based on five pillars, aims to connect people, create opportunities for the youth, bolster the Tunisian economy, attract investments in key sectors, and forge a clean energy partnership.

Additionally, it seeks to manage migration more effectively. As described by Mark Rutte, this agreement is designed to foster economic growth, employment, and transition to sustainable energy, while disrupting the operations of human traffickers, strengthening border control, and improving registration and return processes.