TUNIS - The 10th European Union-Tunisia Association Council held in Monday in Luxembourg was marked by the political agreement reached on the overall text of the Action Plan 2014-2017 establishing privileged partnership between the two sides.
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Fayçal Gouia led the Tunisian delegation.
The 10th EU-Tunisia Association Council was co-chaired on the European side by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council and European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle.
According to a press release of the Foreign Ministry issued Tuesday, the priority matrix of the Action Plan emphasises the goals the two sides seek to achieve in the various areas of co-operation, the reforms to be undertaken by Tunisia and the support to be provided by the EU to implement these reforms as well as implementation indicators.
This Action Plan represents a unified framework allowing to co-ordinate the efforts of the EU to back reforms and projects considered as priority for Tunisia in its process of democratisation as well as economic and social consolidation, the same source said.
It also represents a framework allowing a progressive integration of the Tunisian economy into the European domestic market, strengthening measures to support bilateral trade, improving the business environment and increasing Tunisian and international public and private investments to create jobs for youth.
During the 10th EU-Tunisia Association Council, the EU expressed its commitment to strengthening its privileged partnership with Tunisia and its support for the political and socio-economic reforms to meet the democratic aspirations of Tunisian citizens.
The EU expressed willingness to increase its financial assistance to Tunisia for 2014-2015 so as to back up its democratic transition process and economic reforms.
The amount of loans (still to be determined) to be given to Tunisia in 2014 will be about 300 million euros at favourable terms as part of the EU Marco-financial assistance, the press release adds.
The Association Council allowed Tunisia and the EU to reiterate their shared will to further develop co-operation.
The two sides also expressed their desire to move forward in the various areas of partnership, particularly security co-operation, partnership for mobility, free and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA), open skies, agricultural trade and entrepreneurship.
They also signed a framework agreement on Tunisia's participation in the EU programmes open to third countries.
The two sides also signed the protocol adjusting the Association Agreement following the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU.
The Association Council also allowed the two sides to share views on regional issues of mutual interest.
Prior to the council, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Fayçal Gouia had a meeting with his Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn.
The meeting focused on the relations between Tunisia and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and ways to develop them.
Gouia also met with Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Philippe de Fontaine-Vive who expressed EIB's willingness to develop co-operation with Tunisia.
© Tunis-Afrique Presse 2014
