Cooperation with Tunisia has risen to the level of a "strategic partnership" for investment, human development, migration, trade and shared sovereignty, according to President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

A partnership in which "the mutual advantages and benefits are clear and obvious", she added in a speech on Sunday at the opening of the International Conference on Migration and Development held in the Italian capital Rome.

"In order to meet the challenge of migration in Europe, the European Union needs to forge new strategic partnerships, such as the one with Tunisia", she added.

For the President of the European Commission, the ever-increasing impact of climate change coupled with factors linked to migration dictate "new thinking", just as it requires the promotion of "new strategic and global partnerships between the two shores of the Mediterranean".

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Tunisia and the European Union at the Carthage Palace on Sunday, July 16, in the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian President of the Council Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The memorandum, entitled "Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership", provides for the implementation of a package of measures covering five key areas.

This strategic document deals with youth employment, economic development, investment, strengthening trade and the digital transition, as well as the fight against illegal migration.

The amount of funds scheduled under this memorandum totalled 750 million euros.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse