In the past few weeks, Tunisia has taken a key role in world politics following back-to-back visits from EU officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to negotiate a financial assistance deal.
The deal could be critical in terms of easing the growing migration crisis across the Mediterranean, and could also help debt-laden Tunisia avoid further economic failure.
But several prominent Tunisian commentators say that a critical aspect of the €900 million deal – €100 million in border control funding, to stem a growing influx of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa – is far from sufficient to bring change.
At around 11 per cent of the total aid, one expert told The National the border control funding is far from sufficient and Tunisia should press for more.
Last month, Ylva Johansson, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, described the deal as "a good example of a comprehensive approach towards migration".
Right-wing backlash
In February President Kais Saied made a series of inflammatory remarks about sub-Saharan Africans in Tunisia, many of whom are trying to reach Europe, but are often deported from the continent or perish at sea at the hands of unscrupulous human traffickers.
While Mr Saied's remarks were widely condemned, the EU is pushing for deeper engagement on the issue, which has inflamed right-wing sentiment in both Europe and Tunisia.
The optics of the deal being about stemming migration were worsened by the presence of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a June press conference on EU assistance in Tunis, also attended by Ms von der Leyen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Ms Meloni, who has been criticised for a long history of far-right political stances, pledged full support for Tunisia in its current financial crisis.
What Tunis and Brussels both see as a catastrophe could overshadow many other aspects of the proposed EU aid.
The package includes funding for railways and internet infrastructure, as well as vital budget support, as Tunisia grapples with high inflation and debt amounting to 80 per cent of the country's GDP.
However, despite the EU's interest in co-operating on migration control as part of the deal, Tunisians are afraid that some of its clauses might create further tension in the country.
"We cannot accept a deal with Europe that does not respect human dignity," lawyer and human rights activist Ayachi Hammami told local radio station Mosaique on Monday.
"No solution can be found without the existence of internal solidarity and national unity [among Tunisians] in a way that would strengthen the Tunisian [state's] position."
A shift in diplomacy on the part of Tunis, from its previous attempt to present itself as the gatekeeper to Europe, has enabled the current government to make migration a major negotiation point, not only with the EU, but also with the International Monetary Fund.
Pragmatism and diplomacy
Mr Saied has repeatedly rejected claims that Tunis is only increasing maritime border control for Europe’s sake.
However, Tunisia must uphold previous international obligations relating to the prevention of migrant boat crossings, for which it has already received money.
Mr Saied's refusal both to allow migrants to settle in Tunisia, and for Tunis to be a gatekeeper to EU borders, has changed the tone of negotiations. EU authorities have now placed further support on the table, in a new deal that might be more beneficial for Tunisia.
Tunisia is an EU partner and is on our southern border; we have a keen interest in making sure that it does not collapse, and that is the work we are trying to do
EU diplomat
“It’s broader than just migration,” a European diplomatic source told journalists during a brief in Brussels.
“Tunisia is an EU partner and is on our southern border; we have a keen interest in making sure that it does not collapse, and that is the work we are trying to do,” the diplomat said.
A senior EU official also told The National that the bloc has been working on a comprehensive package for cooperation with Tunisia, but this deal also requires Tunis to engage positively with the IMF.
“An agreement with the IMF is key for the structural reforms that Tunisia badly needs,” the official told The National.
The approval of the EU's aid package remains on hold, as Tunisian authorities have requested the deadline be extended so they can further review some of the terms in the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding.
“Tunisia has every right to bargain using this [migration] file,” Hassan Boubakri, Professor of Geography at the University of Sousse and president of the Tunis Center for Migration and Asylum, told The National.
“The money that Europe has been giving is worth nothing when we know the level of the humanitarian crisis prevailing here,” he added.
Prof Boubakri believes it is important for Tunisia to ask the EU for further financial aid, not just to ensure border control, but also to grant a decent standard of living to those who have been prevented from crossing to Europe and are now the responsibility of the Tunisian state.
“Tunisia must stand up in its negotiations and say no when it’s needed. We must say that, if the bare minimum to cover the living expenses of people we stop from crossing to Europe is not covered, there is no point anymore in controlling our borders,” Prof Boubakri told The National.
This stance must be at the heart of the current negotiations, he said.
“Tunisia now has the upper hand in this whole deal. The EU has admitted on multiple occasions that the situation might get out of hand soon, and a Tunisian deal-breaker would only make the situation worse,” he said.
Several Tunisian experts have spoken in recent weeks about the need for Tunisia to use increased EU interest in boosting development and enabling the disbursement of further European funding, which could entice the IMF to unblock its promised bailout package.
Further support for the growing numbers of migrants in Tunisia is important, as there is currently no framework for sending them back to their countries due to the lack of repatriation treaties in place.
“You would need at least two years of negotiations for these treaties to be concluded and formally introduced,” Prof Boubakri explained.
“Tunisia now finds itself in a snare. On one hand, it has previous commitments that obligate it to control its maritime borders and prevent migrant boats from crossing, and on the other, it has no means to deport these people to their countries.”
“Europe’s policy has turned the Mediterranean into a big prison for us all, and Tunisia has become complicit,” argues Prof Boubakri.
He also accused the EU of having double standards in dealing with migration from the Middle East and Africa compared to its treatment of refugees from Ukraine.
“It’s appalling how the struggles of these people are always belittled – they are also escaping conflicts, extremism, poverty and increasing environmental risks,” he said.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
SANCTIONED
- Kirill Shamalov, Russia's youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin's daughter Katarina
- Petr Fradkov, head of recently sanctioned Promsvyazbank and son of former head of Russian Foreign Intelligence, the FSB.
- Denis Bortnikov, Deputy President of Russia's largest bank VTB. He is the son of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB which was responsible for the poisoning of political activist Alexey Navalny in August 2020 with banned chemical agent novichok.
- Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft Corporation, a major aircraft manufacturer for the Russian military.
- Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, chair of the board of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate.
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
List of UAE medal winners
Gold
Faisal Al Ketbi (Open weight and 94kg)
Talib Al Kirbi (69kg)
Omar Al Fadhli (56kg)
Silver
Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Khalfan Belhol (85kg)
Zayed Al Mansoori (62kg)
Mouza Al Shamsi (49kg women)
Bronze
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Open and 94kg)
Saood Al Hammadi (77kg)
Said Al Mazroui (62kg)
Obaid Al Nuaimi (56kg)
Bashayer Al Matrooshi (62kg women)
Reem Abdulkareem (45kg women)
The%20specs
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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