Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Sabri Bachtobji received, Wednesday, a delegation from the European Parliament visiting Tunisia from September 19 to 23, as part of the holding of the EU-Tunisia Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting.

The delegation was led by President of the Delegation for Relations with the Maghreb Countries and the Arab Maghreb Union at the European Parliament (EP) Pier Antonio Panzeri.

The State Secretary welcomed the support and commitment of the European Parliament in favor of Tunisia, expressed by the adoption on September 14, 2016, of a resolution suggesting a series of measures to strengthen the European support to Tunisia.

He stressed the importance Tunisia attaches to the strategic partnership with the European Union and the need for substantial support from the EU to help better meet the social and economic challenges it faces, particularly in terms of job creation and development of disadvantaged areas.

He spoke of the adoption on 17 September 2016 of the new investment law, calling to use this new instrument to promote European cooperation in Tunisia.

The MEPs said the economic difficulties faced by Tunisia require the adoption by the EU and the international community of an exceptional support plan to contribute to the protection and consolidation of the young Tunisian democracy.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the development of co-operation between Tunisia and the European Parliament, in particular in the fields of culture, education, research and academic exchanges, in addition to the co-management of migration.

Emphasis was placed on the potential role of Tunisia and Europe in promoting the values ​​of peace and tolerance to help bring peoples in the region closer.

Source : TAP