Tunisia and EU sign pact to stem migration and combat human trafficking

The deal follows weeks of talks and Europe’s pledge of aid to Tunisia amounting to US$1.12 billion to help its economy, state finances and migration crisis

‘It is a further important step towards creation of a true partnership between Tunisia and the EU,’ said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

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Tunisian President Kais Saied, centre right, shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, centre left, during a press conference with Netherlands’ Prime Minister Mark Rutte, left and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, at the presidential palace in Carthage, Tunisia on Sunday. Photo: Tunisian Presidency via AP

Published: 4:06am, 17 Jul 2023

Tunisia and the European Union on Sunday signed a “strategic partnership” deal that includes combating human traffickers and tightening borders during a sharp increase in boats leaving the North African nation for Europe.

The deal follows weeks of talks and Europe’s pledge of major aid to Tunisia amounting to €1 billion (US$1.12 billion) to help its battered economy, rescue state finances and deal with a migration crisis. Most funds are contingent on economic reforms.

“It contains agreements on disrupting the business model of people smugglers and human traffickers, strengthening border control and improving registration and return. All essential measures for bolstering efforts to stop irregular migration,” Netherlands’ Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter. Rutte resigned on July 7 after Netherlands’ ruling coalition failed to agree on migration policy.

From left, Tunisian President Kais Saied, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the presidential palace in Carthage, Tunisia on Sunday. Photo: Dati Bendo / European Commission / dpa

The European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will allocate €100 million (US$112 million) to Tunisia to help it combat illegal migration. The deal promotes macroeconomic stability, trade and investment, green energy transition and legal immigration.

Thousands of undocumented African migrants have flocked to the city of Sfax in recent months seeking to head for Europe in traffickers’ boats, amounting to an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia.

“We are very pleased, it is a further important step towards creation of a true partnership between Tunisia and the EU, which can address in an integrated fashion the migration crisis,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

Meloni, whose country has suffered a sharp increase in immigration boats, said there would be an international conference on migration in Rome next Sunday with a number of heads of state, including Tunisian President Kais Saied.