no-interest loans from EU to support country

                                (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, APRIL 23 - European Union ambassador to

Tunisia, Marcus Cornaro, has expressed the EU’s full support to
efforts made by the Tunisian government with its national
program of economic reform.During a meeting with Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi at the
government palace, Cornaro added that the EU has mechanisms of
support and cooperation that will be made available to the
Tunisian government, according to a statement released by
Tunisia’s cabinet. The EU – Cornaro also said – “will be the
first to defend Tunisia with member countries through ambitious
programs in the field of investments and employment”.

The Union will give Tunisia loans and subsidies without
interests in 2021, with the objective of supporting efforts by
the country to mobilize financial resources and will work to
coordinate and further unify efforts with Tunisia on European
programs for the reconstruction of Libya, in particular in the
sectors of transport, trade, logistics and immigration.

For his part, the Tunisian prime minister said that Tunisia
is working to strengthen cooperation with the EU, especially
because relations between the two sides are strategic and
constructive. Mechichi added that Tunisia, now experiencing a
difficult financial situation, will conduct negotiations with
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through a consensual
economic program with all national organizations and stressed
the Union’s efforts and continued support to the success of the
democratic process in Tunisia.

Mechichi’s government plans to start negotiations with the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the start of May in
Washington to obtain a new funding plan. (ANSAmed)