Tunisia returned 60 million euros to the European Union. The country is dissatisfied with agreements with the European Union aimed at ensuring a reduction in illegal immigration to Europe. It is unclear what this measure means for the immigration deal.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni concluded the so-called Tunisia Agreement in July. It was agreed in that deal that Europe would support Tunisia financially to emerge from the Corona crisis. In return, the Tunisian government must take the necessary measures to stop the illegal crossing of migrants across the Mediterranean.
But Tunisia has been complaining for some time that the European Union transfers too little money. Brussels said it would send more than one billion euros to Tunisia, but a large part of the amount is still pending. This is due to the dispute between Tunisia and the International Monetary Fund.
The EU loans are linked to the IMF reform programme. Agreements must be reached on this matter. But Tunisian President Kais Saied had previously expressed his objection to the International Monetary Fund’s conditions. The European Union said the rest of the promised funds would come once the dispute was resolved.
After Tunisia continued to complain about the money, European Commissioner-in-Charge Oliver Varhelyi said last week that Saied should return the money that had already been transferred. The 60 million euros transferred by the European Union to Brussels’ account have been returned.
Ontvang meldingen bij nieuws over migratie
It’s not clear what this means for the immigration deal
It is not yet clear what the refund means for the immigration deal. A European Commission spokesman says it will continue the agreements concluded with Tunisia.
D66 MP Anne-Marijke Podt asks Rutte for clarification and wants to dissolve the agreement. “This deal has been a complete failure so far. I want to know from the outgoing prime minister how we got to this point,” she told the news agency. Afghan National Police.
The Tunisia deal has been under pressure for some time. Initially, there was strong criticism from the left, including over the treatment of migrants in Tunisia. For example, in July, hundreds of migrants were sent into the desert on the border with Libya after unrest in the city of Sfax.
The deal’s supporters are also increasingly negative. They criticize the delay and low returns on the deal.