Tunisia in huge VDL slap down as fury grows at EU U-turn on €60M migrant deal
Tunisia has snubbed Ursula von der Leyen once again, declining to join her Global Gateway Forum project
PA
Tunisia has snubbed Ursula von der Leyen once again, declining to join her Global Gateway Forum project.
The country was invited to tomorrow's meet-up, which sees countries that benefit from the EU's flagship global investment program come together in Brussels.
The forum, which has been compared to China's Belt and Road initiative, is an attempt at expanding the EU's global influence and improving its soft power capabilities.
Most other African governments will have a minister in attendance at the meeting, which is a pet project of Von der Leyen.
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Relations between the EU and Tunisia are said to be rocky after the country handed back €60 million of EU funding that was given to them as part of a pact to accept returned migrants from Italy.
It returned the money after accusing Brussels of backtracking on the terms of the deal.
Von der Leyen handed over the large sum of money to Tunisia after more than 100,000 migrants arrived in Lampedusa, Italy.
In July, they reached a “strategic partnership” deal to fight irregular migration in return for financial support.
But at the time, EU lawmakers and migrant assistance charities questioned whether the deal - which was backed by Italy’s far-right government - meets European rights standards.
The Global Gateway Forum will see von der Leyen host a dinner for heads of states, before a series of dicsussions focused on the green energy transition and green hydrogen, education and research, critical raw materials and transport corridors.
The forum will last two days, starting on October 25.
It will be attended by heads of states from countries including Bangladesh, Senegal, Namibia and Moldova.
Speaking about the Global Gateway Forum, Von der Leyen said: "The world needs investment.
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The forum is a pet project of Von der Leyen
PA
"The right kind of investment. In infrastructure, skills and local jobs."
She added: "On 25 and 26 October the Global Gateway Forum will bring together global leaders and businesses to discuss investment that connect us all."
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