Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

First payment underway: EU releasing Tunisia funds to curb migration

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Sep 2023 19:41
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Discover the details of the EU's billion-euro fund allocations to Tunisia, addressing Europe's migrant crisis and Tunisia's economic troubles.

  • x
  • EU release billion euro fund to Tunisia to curb migration.
    Tunisians who attempted to migrate to Europe are gathered aboard a ship owned by the Tunisian coast guards after being intercepted in the Mideterrenen Sea, on August 10, 2023. (AFP)

The European Union will release money to Tunisia under an agreement that seeks to limit the migration wave from the country toward European countries, the European Commission announced on Friday.

A first payment of 127 million euros ($135 million) will be sent to Tunisia "in the coming days," Commission Spokesperson Ana Pisonero explained.

However, EU lawmakers, the bloc's ombudsman, and non-governmental organizations concerned with migrant affairs have questioned whether the pact meets European rights standards.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's chief, in July. As per the agreement, Tunisia will receive 105 million euros to combat irregular migrants, 150 million euros in budgetary support, and 900 million euros in long-term aid.

The Italian government has been a staunch supporter of the deal, as the country, particularly the island of Lampedusa, has seen the largest traffic among other EU countries primarily due to its geographical location in the Mediterranean and close proximity to Tunisia.

Tunisia has become one of the main launching points for vessels carrying migrants from all over Africa trying to cross the Mediterranean for Europe in search of a better life.

The EU will funnel in funds to Tunisia to strengthen its coastguard, which will be tasked with preventing boats from leaving Tunisian waters. Some of the money sent to the North African country will be allocated to United Nations agencies assisting migrants.

Among the 127 million euros to be "swiftly" disbursed, 42 million will account for the migration agreement, while the rest of the funds will be allocated to previously agreed-upon programs.

Related News

Trump expands visa vetting, halts foreign trucker permits

US court ruling threatens protected status of 60,000 migrants

The fund, valued at over 1 billion euros, is being introduced concurrently with both high inflation and unsuccessful negotiations Tunisia had with the International Monetary Fund.

The EU ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, demanded the commission explain how the pact with Tunisia will not breach human rights standards, seeing that it will restrict migrants' movement by force.

MEPs have also brought up this concern, highlighting reports that in recent months, hundreds of sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia were purportedly transported to the desert close to the Libyan border and abandoned to fend for themselves.

Last week Tunisia denied entry to a European Parliament fact-finding delegation.

Legislators from the parliament's foreign affairs committee were due to head to the North African country on Thursday on a fact-finding mission.

Tunisia's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday that the lawmakers would not be allowed entry due to "multiple reservations" about the visit.

"It is both astonishing and exceptional," MEP Mounir Satouri, a member of the delegation, told AFP.

"Never in at least 20 years has a regime allowed itself to refuse an official delegation from the foreign affairs committee and to say that even if we made the trip we would be turned back at the border."

Read more: Tunisia seals 'strategic' agreement with EU on economy, migration

  • Migrant Crisis
  • Europe
  • Ursula von der Leyen
  • Tunisia
  • Italy
  • European Commission
  • European Union

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS