The European Union (EU) and Tunisia have reached a migration agreement aimed at curbing irregular migration to Europe. On Sunday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,
outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traveled to Tunisia to finalize the deal.
Under the agreement, Tunisia will enhance its border security measures and intensify efforts against human trafficking, while receiving financial support from the EU to strengthen its economy. Tunisia is currently a key transit country for irregular migration to Europe.
Rutte emphasized the importance of gaining better control over irregular migration, stating, "Migration is a significant element of the agreement we have signed today." Von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, noting the need to combat criminal networks involved in smuggling and trafficking.
Specific financial details of the agreement were not disclosed during the announcement. However, in a previous statement, von der Leyen mentioned that the EU was prepared to provide Tunisia with over 1 billion euros in various areas, including trade, investment, and energy cooperation.
The deal has faced criticism regarding Tunisia's human rights record and treatment of migrants. It will now be presented to EU member countries for consideration.
The European Commission aims to establish similar agreements with other countries in Europe, using the Tunisia deal as a blueprint, according to von der Leyen's statement last week. Photo by Amy Keus from Constanta, Romania, Wikimedia commons.