EU, Tunisia look forward to stronger ties in '18

BRUSSELS, Feb 5 (KUNA) -- The EU and Tunisia expressed optimism Monday that the year 2018 will be crucial for enhancing and strengthening their bilateral partnership.
"We believe that 2018 should not be, cannot be, a year like any other in our bilateral relations. 2018 is a special year for bilateral ties when stability and democratic process prevails in Tunisia," EU high Representative Federica Mogherini told a press conference after a meeting with Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui in Brussels.
"The stability of Tunisia and the full realization of its democratic transition are priority interests for the European Union and I want to confirm to the Minister and to Tunisia that we will always be with Tunisia. It is for us not only a sign of friendship but also in the interest of the European Union and all Europeans to invest in Tunisia," she said.
Mogherini said that they have decided to make progress on a number of issues of common interests such as youth partnership, migration and innovation.
On his part, Jhinaoui told the joint press conference that 2018 will be a "key year for partnership with the EU." He thanked the you EU for offering extra scholarship programme to the youth in Tunisia adding that the youth is very much involved in the democratic process and they want new doors to open up for them like mobility.
However, the Tunisian minister lamented that last year his country was put on the EU black list of tax heavens saying "this was unfair, this was an unilateral decision." He thanked Mogherini for making sure that Tunisia is taken out of this list.
Jhinaoui underlined Tunisia's resolve in fighting terrorism and added that the image of his country as a democratic country shall prevail and shall be the one that should be visible and well understood by the European public opinion. (end) nk.mt