Tunisia, Saied freezes the EU: we do not accept the funds. “Charity, an insignificant amount”

The Tunisian President, Kais Saied, announced that his country refuses to accept the funds allocated by the European Union to Tunisia, which he defined as “charity” and whose “paltry” amount would be in conflict with the agreement concluded in July between the two parties . On September 22, the European Commission announced that it would “rapidly” begin allocating funds under the agreement with Tunisia to reduce the number of migrants arriving from that country. The Commission specified that of the 105 million euros in aid provided for in the agreement to combat illegal immigration, around 42 million euros will be “allocated quickly”. Another 24.7 million euros have already been allocated to ongoing programs. “Tunisia, which accepts cooperation, does not accept anything that resembles charity or favor, because our country and our people do not want compassion and do not accept it when it is disrespectful”, Saied emphasized.

«Consequently, Tunisia rejects what was announced in recent days by the EU», the announcement from Tunis’ number one after the face-to-face meeting with its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nabil Ammar. The refusal is not due to “the insignificant amount (…) but to the fact that this proposal is contrary” to the agreement signed in Tunis and “to the spirit that prevailed at the Rome conference” in July.

According to the European Commission, the aid should be used in part to repair boats used by the Tunisian coast guard and to cooperate with international organizations both for the “protection of migrants” and for repatriation operations of these exiles from Tunisia to their countries of origin. origin. origin. The memorandum of understanding between Tunisia and the EU also provides for direct budgetary aid of 150 million euros in 2023, at a time when the country is facing serious economic difficulties. Tunisia, along with Libya, is the main departure point for thousands of migrants crossing the central Mediterranean towards Europe and arriving in Italy.