The leaders of the European Union, Italy, and the Netherlands visited Tunisia on Sunday to discuss ways to help its struggling economy and reduce the flow of irregular migrants to Europe.
The North African country is a major gateway for migrants and asylum-seekers attempting dangerous Mediterranean sea crossings.
Last week, EU governments agreed on steps to fast-track migrant returns to their countries of origin or transit countries deemed “safe,” including Tunisia.
European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte met with President Kais Saied for talks on economic and migration concerns.
Tunisia lies about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa and has long been a stepping stone for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries.
However, an increasing number of migrants hail from Tunisia itself due to its tourism-based economy being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and now facing high inflation and unemployment.
The highly indebted country reached an in-principle deal last year for an IMF bailout loan of around $2 billion.
Talks have since stalled over the reforms demanded by the fund, especially on state-run enterprises and state subsidies on basic products.
President Saied has seized almost total power since a dramatic July 2021 move against parliament and slammed what he has termed the “diktats” of the Washington-based IMF.
On the migration issue, Saied has vowed “urgent measures” to tackle arrivals in Tunisia in the past.
Tunisian rights groups accused him of hate speech after he charged in February that “hordes” of sub-Saharan African migrants were responsible for rising crime and posed a “demographic” threat.
Attacks on migrants rose sharply after his speech, causing thousands to flee the country.
Saied rejected turning Tunisia into Europe’s “border guard,” speaking during a surprise visit to Sfax, a coastal city from where many migrants leave.
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights denounced the visit by the three European leaders as an attempt to “blackmail” Tunisia with an offer of financial support in return for stepped-up border vigilance.
