EU-Tunisia Association Council, 17/05/2019, 17 May 2019

Main results

The Association Council reviewed EU-Tunisia bilateral relations. It took stock of the EU-Tunisia privileged partnership and discussed  next steps.

Today’s meeting allowed us to review our privileged partnership. I am happy to see excellent progress in a particularly fruitful year, notably in supporting the ambition of Tunisia’s youth. Today we signed off financing of 60 million through the EU4Youth platform for Tunisian young people, especially youth in socio-economic vulnerable situations. Tunisia is a valuable example of democratic consolidation, and the EU remains more committed than ever to support Tunisia in its path of structural reform. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

The Council was an opportunity to continue dialogue with the EU on the future of EU-Tunisia relations. We presented Tunisian ambitions and the Tunisian visions for the future. We discussed how to allow our students, youth, researchers to have opportunities in the EU within a framework of a win-in partnership. Khemaies Jhinaoui, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tunisia

After the meeting, a joint press statement was published:

• Joint press statement following the 15th session of the EU-Tunisia Association Council

The Association Council focused on key themes of the EU-Tunisia partnership, including:

• support for socio-economic development and trade relations, in particular the importance of the ongoing structural and socio-economic reforms
• continuation of the democratic transition and decentralisation process, including the implementation of the Constitution and judicial reform
• the EU-Tunisia youth partnership, to continue enlarging the economic, social and political inclusion of young Tunisians, including through the signature of a programme EU4Youth
• mobility and migration, including legal migration and addressing the root causes of illegal migration

The Association Council also considered the future of bilateral relations, in particular in view of the partnership priorities after 2020. In addition, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, Khemaies Jhinaoui, discussed matters of common interest such as the situation in the region, security and counter-terrorism.

• Report on the EU-Tunisia relations in the framework of the revised neighbourhood policy
• EU-Tunisia Association Council, 15 May 2018
• EU delegation to Tunisia (EEAS)
• EU trade with Tunisia (European Commission)