Brussels is worried about the consequences of the deterioration of the political and economic situation in Tunisia. The European Union even fears a collapse of the country, declared Monday the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.
“The situation in Tunisia is very dangerous,” he warned after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. “If Tunisia collapses, it risks causing migration flows to the EU and causing instability in the MENA region. We want to avoid this situation,” he warned.
For the EU, the president “must sign with the IMF”
The ministers therefore asked Belgium and Portugal to send representatives on a mission to Tunisia in order to carry out “an assessment of the situation to enable the EU to direct its measures”. “The European Union cannot help a country unable to sign an agreement with the International Monetary Fund”, maintained Josep Borrell, however. “President Kais Saied must sign with the IMF and implement the agreement, otherwise the situation will be very serious for Tunisia,” he insisted.
President Saied has granted himself all powers since July 25, 2021 and has arrested many personalities. The main opposition parties denounce an “authoritarian drift” which is wobbling the young democracy that emerged from the first revolt of the Arab Spring in 2011.