EU to give post-revolution Tunisia €258 million in aid by 2013
Baku, February 15 (AZERTAC). European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (pictured) has announced a 258-million-euro ($347 million) aid package to help Tunisia`s interim government cope with social and economic turmoil. The European Union will extend 258 million euros (348 million dollars) in aid to Tunisia by 2013 and 17 million euros immediately, its top diplomat said here Monday. EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton told a press conference that the EU would immediately unblock 17 million euros to help Tunisia`s interim government and would extend 258 million euros by 2013. She did not specify whether the larger sum included the emergency aid. The aid aims to help Tunis cope with mounting social and economic tensions in the wake of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali`s ouster last month. Ashton also said the EU would help Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi host an international conference on political and economic reforms in Carthage in March. She also said Brussels would begin talks with the country`s interim government on granting Tunisia "advanced status" for improved trade and cooperation ties, which it hopes a new parliament can ratify in six months.
The EU had begun talks with ousted leader Ben Ali`s regime on the advanced status last May but the negotiations had made little progress.
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