MEPs and members of Tunisia’s Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) will meet in Brussels to discuss present and future EU-Tunisia relations, including the ongoing talks on a Free Trade Agreement, the participation of women in public life and the fight against money laundering. Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Mohamed ENNACEUR, President of the Tunisian Assembly of the Representatives of the People and Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

meeting

EU - Tunisia (T)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

opening ceremony

ENNACEUR, Mohamed (TN)

Tunisian week at the EP: extracts from the opening statements by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Mohamed ENNACEUR, President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People and by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union

Atmosphere shots before the opening of the Tunisian Week opening session. Arrival of Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Mohamed ENNACEUR, President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People and Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, You have our support and we support the strengthening of the European Union's aid through all the instruments of the partnership. We must not only consolidate economic growth, but also make it sustainable. I am also convinced that the acceleration of our negotiations for the early establishment of the Comprehensive and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement will contribute to this sustainable development. I am delighted that after the worrying figures of 2015 and 2016, tourism activity will resume in 2017.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Let me have a thought for the victims of the attacks in your country. The scourge of terrorism affects us all. Our increased cooperation is essential. It is also relevant to the struggle against radicalization. With education one takes the evil at the source, but the question arises more seriously with regard to individuals already radicalized.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We all have the same interest: turn the Mediterranean, which is unfortunately experiencing war and tensions as we see in the Middle east and in Libya, we have to turn the Mediterranean into a Sea that will be the scenario for cultural, economic and trade exchanges. Only our commitment can bring this about, also the active involvement of Tunisian and Members of the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Mohamed ENNACEUR, President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, Indeed, in the event that Tunisia and Europe agree to successfully meet the challenges related to terrorism, immigration, organized crime and economic and social drift throughout the region, especially in the Southern part, they have no choice but to unify their vision, accurately diagnose and identify urgent and future common interests, and put in place the structures and means necessary for their realization, in their own interest and in the interest of the region as a whole.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Mohamed ENNACEUR, President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, The EU and Tunisia are currently experiencing a crucial and new stage in their history, demanding an advance in their relationship, a transformation in their relation that will bind them together. This is the very subject of this visit and this is why we have such high level leadership from our assembly present here at the EP today.

SOUNDBITE (French), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The EU is always at your side. We also welcome your successes and I want to ensure that we give you full support in meeting your current challenges, and of course we know there are several. Economic, security, social and regional. And particularly the Libyan crisis which is something that affects us both in Tunisia and in Europe in the same way.

SOUNDBITE (French), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The European Union is here for Tunisia. And this is not just because we are neighbouring countries and we share the same Sea. We also know that if things go well for Tunisia that&rsquo;s better for Europe. It&rsquo;s in our own interest to continue to work with you to coordinate and cooperate in a deeper level and to ensure that that yields results we want to see.