The projects resulting from the first calls for projects launched under the two cross-border cooperation programmes « Interreg NEXT MED » and « Interreg NEXT Italy-Tunisia », were officially launched in Tunisia, during a joint event organised on Wednesday in Tunis.
Committed since 2007 to cross-border and transnational cooperation programs, Tunisia continues its participation for the period 2021-2027, affirming its role as a key player in both initiatives.
The European Union is mobilising €32.3 million for the Interreg NEXT Italy-Tunisia bilateral programme, 45% of which is dedicated to the green transition as part of the Green Deal. This programme aims to strengthen cooperation between Sicily (nine provinces) and Tunisia (16 governorates) around common priorities, including competitiveness, research and innovation, ecological transition and climate resilience, social inclusion, access to healthcare, as well as the development of the tourism and culture sectors. It also aims to improve local governance and the involvement of civil society.
In addition, the EU is providing more than €260 million for the Interreg NEXT MED transnational programme, which brings together 15 countries around the Mediterranean basin, including Tunisia.
The NEXT MED programme will fund joint cooperation projects aimed at making the Mediterranean a greener, cleaner, more competitive and more inclusive living space
During this launch event organized on the theme « Tunisia at the heart of Euro-Mediterranean cross-border cooperation », the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Economy, Lotfi Fradi, affirmed that « Tunisia joined very early on to cross-border cooperation, an innovative form of cooperation within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy ».
« And it has been committed to it with dynamism, as evidenced by the results obtained following the first two calls for projects under the Interreg NEXT programmes. We now have 43 partners involved in 37 Interreg NEXT MED projects and 72 partners involved in 30 Interreg NEXT Italy-Tunisia projects, » he added.
He went on to say that « these projects cover strategic areas such as green and digital transitions, energy efficiency, support for SMEs and startups, youth inclusion, health, research and innovation, as well as local economic development ».
According to him, « cross-border cooperation is a privileged framework to respond, together, to the common challenges of the Mediterranean, through concerted solutions directly carried out by regional and local actors, thus contributing to boosting inclusive and equitable development ».
For his part, the national focal point for cross-border cooperation programmes at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, Fathi Ben Mimoune, said: « Today we are celebrating 20 years of cross-border cooperation with the EU since Tunisia has been committed to it since 2007 with 7-year cycles. The first cycle covered the period 2007-2013. The second cycle was spread over the period 2014-2020 and now we are in the third cycle 2021-2027 ».
« During the 2014-2020 cycle, Tunisia received €40 million in grants from the European Union to finance partnership projects with other European countries (adaptation to climate change, support for SMEs and startups, research and innovation, etc.).
« For the 2021-2027 cycle, Tunisia has so far received €25 million in funding under the first calls for proposals launched under the Interreg NEXT MED and Interreg NEXT Italy-Tunisia programmes. »
« An opportunity of €34 million is still open for the countries concerned by the Interreg NEXT MED programme and €2 million under the Interreg NEXT Italy-Tunisia programme, » he said.
He concluded, « We encourage Tunisian institutions to develop project development so that they can become leaders of cross-border cooperation projects instead of being content to be partners. »
For his part, the European Union’s ambassador to Tunisia, Giuseppe Perrone, said that Tunisia is a partner in 68 of the 89 projects approved under the two programmes, thus confirming « its commitment to the stability, prosperity and resilience of the Euro-Mediterranean area ».
Wednesday’s event was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the national authority for Interreg NEXT programmes.
source : webmanagercenter
