“ Tunisia has achieved great progress” says latest EU report.
Tunis, April 4, 2008-(TunisiaOnline)--In a memorandum published on April 3, 2008 the EU writes that Tunisia was the first Euro-Mediterranean country to have signed an association agreement with the EU in 1998. Insofar as the creation of a Free Trade Area by 2010 is concerned, “ Tunisia adds the memorandum is the most advanced country, which has launched the dismantling of the tariff barrier since 1996. All tariffs for industrial products have been abolished since January 1, 2008.”
In its 2007 assessment of the EU neighbourhood policy, the memorandum writes that “Progress has been achieved in a great number of cooperation areas and has led to a strong growth of the Tunisian economy”.
The EU Commission now wishes to widen its dialogue with Tunisia to the other items included by the Association Agreement, says the memorandum.
Among the examples of the support the EU has brought to Tunisia , the memorandum mentions, cooperation in the field of education, of the upgrading of 10% of Tunisian enterprises, the improvement of the functioning of the Tunis Port insofar as merchandise and freight are concerned and rural development, through the building of dams.
In 2007 Tunisia benefited from 103 million Euros of EU funds whereas for the 2007-2010 period some 300 million Euros were earmarked for Tunisia within the EU neighbourhood policy.
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