The European Union (EU) announced a support package of 127 million euros to Tunisia within the scope of combating irregular migration.
In the written statement made by the EU Commission, it was announced that the EU will provide 60 million euros of budget support and approximately 67 million euros of operational assistance to Tunisia within the scope of the 10-item action plan presented to support Italy after the Lampedusa Island suffered an influx of irregular immigrants in recent days.
The basis of the aid in question is based on the memorandum of understanding on “strategic and comprehensive partnership” signed by the EU with Tunisia on July 16 in the fields of combating irregular migration and trade.
In the statement, it was reported that a delegation of Commission officials will visit Tunisia next week to discuss the memorandum of understanding, especially its priority elements.
new package
In the statement, in line with the 10-item plan for Lampedusa and within the scope of the migration support package linked to the memorandum of understanding; It was reported that a separate package worth 105 million was decided, which includes the re-equipment of the Tunisian coast guard and navy, the protection of immigrants in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the return and reintegration from Tunisia to their country of origin in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration.
Small island in the Central Mediterranean that is subject to an influx of irregular immigrants
Lampedusa Island, Italy’s closest landmass to North Africa, has been under serious migration pressure since the beginning of the year due to its location on an irregular migration route in the Central Mediterranean.
More than 6 thousand irregular immigrants came to Lampedusa Island in just 36 hours on September 13-14, and the Island Municipality declared a “state of emergency”.
The Italian press states that the number of people arriving on the island during the week approached 11 thousand, and that most of the immigrant boats departed from Tunisia.
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