Tunisia / France

Sarkozy to promote Mediterranean Union project on state visit

Article published on the 2008-04-28 Latest update 2008-04-29 09:47 TU

Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Photo: AFP

French president Nicolas Sarkozy begins a 48-hour state visit to Tunisia today, where he will be promoting his controversial plan for a Mediterranean Union project. Elysée officials say that the president will also be hoping to conclude nuclear and aviation deals. He is also expected to speak about human rights in Tunisia, where the government is accused of restricting freedom of the press and jailing dissidents.

Sarkozy will be accompanied by his wife, along with dozens of French business leaders on the two-day trip. Junior minister for foreign affairs and human rights, Rama Yade, will also be accompanying the president.

Sarkozy is expected to use the opportunity to propose a nuclear cooperation agreement, which would see France supplying nuclear reactors to Tunisia. Similar agreements have been signed with Libya, Morocco and Algeria.

France is Tunisia’s top European trade partner. The Franco-German aeronautic company Airbus is in discussions with Tunis Air for a contract to supply planes.

Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on Sunday reiterated his support for Sarkozy's proposed Mediterranean union project. The French president is determined to push forward the plan as France prepares to take presidency of the European Union on 1 July.

The aim of the project is to improve trade, transport and energy links between southern European countries and nations around the Mediterranean, including Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Israel and Turkey.

The plan is due to be launched at a summit in Paris in July but has been met with suspicion in other EU countries, particularly in Germany, where it is feared that it will detract from the European Union.

Energy supply is to be one of the main pillars of the project, with France to be granted access to gas supplies in exchange for transferring civil nuclear technology to its southern partners. The project will also concentrate on areas such as crime and terrorism, illegal immigration and sustainable development.

Turkey has also reacted angrily to the proposal, as it is seen as a way of sidelining an eventual Turkish entry into the European Union.