In the midst of the refugee crisis, Tunisian President Kais Saied embarks on a path of confrontation with the European Union.
On Monday, Saeed rejected European Union aid worth 127 million euros as part of an agreement to limit illegal immigration from Africa to Europe.
Saeed said: “Not because of the small amount, but because the proposal contradicts the agreement signed in July.”
The agreement was preceded by weeks of discussions and a commitment by the European Union to support Tunisia with a total amount of one billion euros. The payments are largely linked to economic reforms.
However, the reduction announced by the European Union in mid-September frustrated the Tunisian government, which is struggling to balance the state’s finances. The agreement with Tunisia is being criticized within the European Union because the Tunisian government is accused of committing human rights violations.
Thousands flee to Europe via Tunisia
Last week, Tunisia postponed a visit by a delegation from the European Commission that was scheduled to discuss the details of the migration agreement. Last month, the country also denied entry to five members of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the political situation in Tunisia.
In recent months, thousands of people from Africa who do not have identification papers have flocked to the Tunisian city of Sfax in order to reach Europe by boat. On the Italian island of Lampedusa alone, hundreds of people have been arriving daily on crowded boats for weeks. The Mediterranean island is located only about 140 kilometers east of the Tunisian coast.
SRF News 4, October 3, 2023, 3:00 am; Reuters/SAEP; imhm
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