The High Representative/ Vice-President Federica Mogherini met Mr. Khemaies Jhinaoui, Tunisian Foreign Minister today in Brussels. “We wanted to meet today because we consider that 2018 must not be, cannot be, a year like the others in our bilateral relations”, said Mrs Mogherini in the press conference that followed the meeting.

The High Representative confirmed the importance for the European Union to support Tunisia.

“We could establish during the past years and especially following the launch of our privileged partnership in 2012, a strategic relation that includes several fields. The stability of Tunisia and the complete fulfilment of its democratic transition are priority interests for the European Union, and I would like to confirm to the Minister and to Tunisia that we will always be at Tunisia’s side. Not only it is a sign of friendship, but also it is in the interest of the European Union and all the Europeans to invest in Tunisia, in Tunisians and to make the democratic transition of the country deservedly succeed.”

Mrs Mogherini underlined the emphasis placed by the European Union on the support of the Tunisian youth through different programs and tools. “We would like to act together – Tunisia and European Union – to bring concrete answers to the expectations of the Tunisians, and especially youth… I’m thinking of the implementation of the EU-Tunisia Partnership for youth with the increase of the number of Erasmus+ scholarships and our projects to improve professional training. We will also pursue the negotiations concerning the agreements on migration and mobility issues. We are also ready to open a debate on concrete and immediate initiatives such as the support to innovation and the creation of start-ups.”

The European Union is also willing to further support Tunisia in its economic transition. “We would like to become the first partner of Tunisia in its economic transition and implement a real partnership for growth between the EU and Tunisia. This includes the implementation of initiatives able to help Tunisia take on the challenge of openness and transformation of its economy. For instance, I’m thinking about the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) and the measures that go with it, the Open Sky agreement, but also the numerous actions of support to youth employment.”

The European Union and Tunisia will hold their Association Council – the annual political dialogue – next May. “The meeting will be the occasion to define the priorities of our privileged partnership for the period 2018-2020 and to work on concrete projects to support Tunisia and the Tunisians, and particularly young Tunisians.”

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Press Release

EU Delegation in Tunisia