Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Didier Reynders
Language: EN

Our assistance, in the form of budget support, contributes to the first pillar of the MoU dedicated to macroeconomic stability. It seeks to cooperate with Tunisia to stabilise its macroeconomic situation, improve public finance management and the business and investment climate, with a view to ensuring stable and inclusive growth. Firstly, it follows the negotiations of the budget support programme with Tunisia on the objectives, modalities and conditions, which was concluded on 13 November. Secondly, the adoption of the relevant financing decision by the Commission on 20 December, following the support by the Council and information sharing through various exchanges with the European Parliament before adoption. Thirdly, the signing of the financing agreement with Tunisia, and fourthly, the fulfilment of the general and specific conditions for budget support by Tunisia and the submission of the disbursement request by the end of January.  Fifthly, it is followed by the regular assessment by the Commission Service and the External European External Action Service, and sixthly the subsequent disbursement of the EUR 150 million payment on the 1 March.  The budget support was adopted in full compliance with the Financial Regulation, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument Regulation (NDICI) and the EU Budget Support Guidelines. It consultations of the relevant parties, including the Commission Service and the External Action Service, Member States and information and transmission of the official documents to the European Parliament before adoption, despite the urgency procedure that was necessary for adoption in 2023. The respect for and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms are at the core of our partnership with Tunisia and enshrined in our Association Agreement, which is the overarching legal framework for bilateral relations. Continuous monitoring is being carried out, coupled with our regular political dialogue, including in the context of budget support, in line with the NDICI Regulation. The budget support clearly defined and subsequently monitored the fulfilment of four general and three specific conditions, which were all assessed to be met by the relevant services of the Commission and the External Action Service before disbursement. It followed a single—tranche approach, in line with the agreed MoU commitments and in compliance with the EU Budget Support Guidelines. As mentioned earlier, it was made subject to four general and three additional specific conditions, all monitored and fulfilled in line with Article 236(2) of the Financial Regulation. Cooperation with the European Parliament is an important element of EU cooperation with Tunisia. The issue of access of the EP Delegation to Tunisia has been raised on several occasions, and continues to be raised on every occasion. As before, the Commission stands ready to continue engaging with the European Parliament and discuss the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding. I’ve tried to clarify a lot of the points that you raised in your remarks.