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The second Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) agreement between Tunisia and the European Union worth €500 million (close to 1,324 million Tunisian dinars (MD) under the form of a medium term loan, was inked on Thursday by Fincance Minister Lamia Boujnah Zribi at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels.
This MFA will be disbursed in three installments: The first one (€200 million) at the signing of the agreement, the second (€150 million) in December 2017 and the last one (€150 million) during the first half of 2018, the ministry pointed out Friday in a press release.
“This programme includes measures and reforms that are fully in line with our development strategies and priorities. We have prepared our future strategy and our partners are supporting us in the achievement of our goals,” she specified.
She listed Tunisia’s strategic focuses integrated in this MFA, notably to improve the business climate, reform the administration and banking sector, foster investment, employment and social sectors.
“The mobilised funds will serve to a large extent to consolidate the recovery dynamic recorded in the first months of 2017 and speed up the implementation of reforms to lay the foundation of an inclusive and sustainable economy and take up the challenges of growth, employment and regional development.”
The minister commended the EU’s support to Tunisia through funds and programmes covering several precise political aspects such as justice, civil society and media, in addition to economic and social programmes and projects.
European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs Pierre Moscovici affirmed for his part, that through this MFA, the EU will assist Tunisia in its ambitious reforms agenda set by the Tunisian government and supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He commended in this regard, the success of the Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF and the approval of the five-year development plan (2016-2020).
© Tunis-Afrique Presse 2017
