EU renews readiness to support Tunisia’s ‘essential reforms’

The EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations renewed on Friday the readiness of Europe to offer more support for Tunisia to carry out “essential reforms” across the country, Anadolu has reported. Johannes Hahn made his remarks during a meeting with President Beji Caid Essebsi in Tunis, a statement issued by the Tunisian president’s office confirmed.

Hahn reiterated the importance of accelerating mutual cooperation between the EU and Tunisia. He stressed the latter’s “vital” role in Europe’s neighbourhood policy, as well as its role in reinforcing “stability” in the region. This includes Tunisia promoting commercial exchanges between Africa and the European Union.

According to President Essebsi, his country’s wish is for “mutual support” with its top partner, the EU, to assist Tunisia in fulfilling its economic and social programmes. The two must also work together in the fight against terrorism, which threatens the whole region.

The EU official started a three-day official visit to Tunis on Thursday, meeting a number of senior Tunisian officials, including Prime Minister Habib Essid and Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui. The agenda has included future EU-Tunisian partnership priorities, cooperation against terrorism and the implementation of socio-economic reforms.

During his visit, Hahn has also met with representatives of civil society. “[I] commend the vital contribution of civil society to Tunisia’s remarkable achievements,” he wrote on Twitter.