Tunisia | 9 October 2015

Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström will be travelling to Tunis on Tuesday of next week to launch negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the EU and Tunisia.

The EU wants to mark its support to the political and economic reforms in the country by creating an ambitious partnership on trade and investment matters. In Tunis, Commissioner Malmström will also meet recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Commenting on the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize award to the group of civil society organisations that had played a key role in the country's post-Arab Spring period, Ceclia Malmström said: "This prize is well-deserved! The Tunisian road to democracy has been a source of inspiration and hope for all of us. I look forward to personally conveying my congratulations when I visit Tunis next week. We need keep working for closer ties between the EU and Tunisia, and to support the country's progress going forward. Closer trade relations play an important role here."

During her visit in Tunis, Commissioner Malmström will meet with Prime Minister Habib Essid and Minister of Trade Ridha Lahouel, the organisations awarded the Nobel Peace Prize: UTICA, UGTT and the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human rights, as well as members of the Tunisian National Assembly, which whom she will discuss their expectations and ambitions regarding the future of EU-Tunisia commercial relations.

More information

Relations between EU and Tunisia