EU: Europe will meet Tunisia's needs

"Europe will be present and meet the needs expressed by Tunisia," and it plans, in the short term and in consultation with the authorities and civil society representatives to address urgent issues such as unemployment, regional development and youth. This statement was made by Mr. Bernardino Leon, European Union Special Representative for the Southern Mediterranean Region who held a news conference on Thursday in Tunis to present his programme in Tunisia. Mr. Leon who is paying his second visit to Tunisia since his recent appointment last July 16, said the special plan of action to be set up for Tunisia aims to allow co-ordination and especially mobilisation of efforts for the country and its democratic process. The special representative of the European Union said his appointment aims to allow a better support for Arab countries in democratic transition such as Tunisia and Egypt. Its main reason, he added, is to mobilise funds and resources to allow the implementation of projects in countries of the "Arab Spring." He said, in this context, that the European Union has, in light of the recent developments, redirected its neighbourliness policy to include in it, next to the economic aspect, the social and political dimension. Mr. Leon defends in this regard the setting up of a special work plan seeking to ensure better co-ordination and efficiency of the EU action in Tunisia. This special plan, he said, will be conducted by representatives of European Union member states, European institutions such as the European Investment Bank, the European Commission and the EU External Action Service. This plan will also include representatives of the member states of international organisations and financial institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) to be invited to optimise the synergy in support of investment and reforms. The special representative of the European Union also said he had held discussions with several Tunisian officials such as the Minister of Finance, the Minister of International Co-operation and Development, the Minister of the Interior, the Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia, the Minister, Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Political Reform and the Secretary of State to the Foreign Minister as well as representatives of political parties and the civil society.