The European Union on Sunday offered major financial support to crisis-hit Tunisia, to boost its economy and reduce the flow of irregular migrants across the Mediterranean Sea. Aside from trade and investment, it would help Tunisia with border management and to combat human trafficking, with support worth 100 million euros this year, she said. "We both have a vast interest in breaking the cynical business model of smugglers and traffickers," said von der Leyen. EU governments, under pressure to reduce migrant arrivals, last week agreed on steps to fast-track migrant returns to their countries of origin or transit countries deemed "safe", including Tunisia. Italy's far-right premier, Meloni, was on her second Tunisia visit within a week, after meeting Saied on Tuesday.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 11, 2023 13:48 UTC