Sharjah24 – Reuters: The leaders of Italy, the Netherlands and the European Commission should announce an EU aid package when they visit Tunisia on Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday.
The visit comes as donour countries push President Kais Saied to agree reforms needed to finalise an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan that would in turn unlock extra funds in bilateral aid. Meloni met Saied earlier this week.
However, Saied has shown no sign he is willing to budge and with time running out to save Tunisia's finances, donors say the government has made no new proposals for an alternative deal with the IMF.
The government is already struggling to finance some key imports, leading to shortages, and credit rating agencies have warned Tunisia may default on sovereign debt. Foreign currency reserves this week fell to 91 days from 123 days a year ago.
European governments fear Tunisia's state finances could collapse, turbocharging a new wave of migration across the Mediterranean.
Meloni will travel on Sunday with her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte and the EU commission's Ursula von der Leyen. "It seems to me that important steps forward are being taken," Meloni said.
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