Members of the Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Committee of the Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) held a working session with German Minister of State, Katja Keul, on Wednesday. The MPs expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation between Tunisia and Germany in the fields of economy, trade, higher education, scientific research and renewable energy, according to a statement issued by the parliament. Both parties underlined the importance of relations between the ARP and the Bundestag in the framework of strengthening cooperation at bilateral and multi-party levels. The need to give new impetus to these parliamentary relations by increasing the number of visits was emphasised. The parliamentarians reviewed the recent political changes in Tunisia, highlighting the role played by the parliament in building the new republic and upholding the principles of democracy and human rights. They also spoke of the economic and social difficulties facing Tunisia and underlined the support provided by some countries, in particular Germany. Mrs. Keut welcomed the excellent relations between the two countries and reiterated Germany's willingness to support Tunisia's efforts towards economic recovery and sustainable development. She spoke of the high volume of German investment and the number of German companies in Tunisia. The German state minister reaffirmed the importance of the partnership between Tunisia and the European Union, which, in her view, opens up new prospects for cooperation between the two parties in various fields, including the fight against irregular migration. The challenge of combating irregular migratory flows requires collective action based on tackling the main economic, social and even climatic causes of this phenomenon. Keul is on a working visit to Tunis from August 8 to 11.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse