Tunisian President Kais Syed and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have signed a “strategic partnership” agreement that will help fight human trafficking as well as the country’s economic development, the Tunisian presidency and several leaders announced on Sunday in Europe, Reuters and AFP news agencies reported. quoted by Agerpres.

European leaders signed an agreement with Tunisia to limit the flow of migrantsPhoto: Tunisian Presidency / AP / Profimedia

Ursula von der Leyen, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney were part of an EU delegation that traveled to Tunisia after the number of migrants from the country increased significantly in recent months. It was their second visit to Tunisia after a month ago.

The text “contains agreements to disrupt the business model of people smugglers and traffickers by strengthening border controls and improving registration and return. All necessary measures to strengthen efforts to stop illegal migration,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte wrote on Twitter.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her satisfaction with the agreement, which is designed to lead to investment in “shared prosperity”. She mentioned five main issues, including the issue of migration.

It is “an important new step for a comprehensive solution to the migration crisis,” said Georgia Maloney, who invited Tunisian President Kais Said, who was by her side, to attend a migration summit in Rome next Sunday.

According to Georgia Maloney, the partnership between Tunisia and the EU “can be seen as a model for establishing a new relationship with North Africa”.

What does the EU agreement with Tunisia provide for?

The deal includes 105 million euros in aid to fight illegal immigration and 150 million euros in budget aid as Tunisia is suffocated by a debt of 80% of GDP and has no liquidity.

During their first visit, the European troika proposed “macro-financial assistance of 900 million euros”, which could be given to Tunisia in the form of a loan in the following years.

Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday evening that Brussels was “ready to provide this assistance as soon as the conditions are met”.

That EU aid depends on an agreement between Tunisia and the International Monetary Fund on a new loan, an issue that has been blocked for months.