Summary:

On 19 and 20 February 2024, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Odile Renaud-Basso visited Tunisia for official meetings with President Kais Saied and members of his administration.

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In addition to meetings with President Saied, Renaud-Basso met with Prime Minister Hachani and Minister of Economy and Planning Feryel Ouerghi. The EBRD focused discussions on supporting small and medium enterprises and the green economy, while the relevant Tunisian officials emphasized a need to support public institutions as well as the private sector.

The EBRD signaled the priorities for the visit prior to Renaud-Basso’s arrival, indicating that economic reform, private sector financing, and opportunities to expand the green economy would be on the agenda.

Outlook: 

The visit by the EBRD president is a positive sign of the potential for future cooperation and investment in Tunisia. This is particularly reassuring following the second half of 2023 when relations between Tunisia and its European partners became increasingly tense over the implementation of a migration assistance deal signed in July 2023.

These tensions included cancelling and delaying visits with European organizations that Tunisia has historically welcomed given the potential for investment and assistance.

However, as the current administration looks ahead to the economic challenges in 2024, there may be an increasing openness to rekindling partnerships with Europe, particularly those that might hold the promise of financing.

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