EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Petras Auštrevicius, MEP and Vice-President of the ALDE Group

EP Petras Auštrevicius: EU Moving From Development Assistance to Political-Economic Partnerships in North Africa EUBULLETIN talked in an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Petras Auštrevicius, member of the European Parliament and a vice-president of the ALDE political faction where he also acts as a coordinator for ALDE in the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI). EUBulletin: Can you please elaborate a little bit on the European Neighbourhood Policy vis-à-vis the North African region? Back during the Arab Spring series of revolutions, the EU admitted some mistakes concerning its policies in North Africa and…

The challenges of building an industrial economy in Africa

The manufacturing sector could boost huge economic growth for the continent but its share of GDP has not moved from around 11 per cent over the last 10 years. Economist Moin Siddiqi investigates In today’s sophisticated global economy, Africa remains a weak link. The region could become an emerging manufacturing hub through optimal development of natural and human resources and increased technological transfers. Li Yong, director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, said: “Africa is by no means destined to lag behind the rest of the world economy. But…

Tunisia aims for 10 mln visitors in 2020

Over 3.5 million tourists have visited Tunisia since the start of the year, Minister for Tourism and Craftsmanship Selma Elloumi Rekik has said. The indicators are positive and bode well for the coming season, she added. “We aim to reach 10 million tourists in 2020, and for this reason we are determined to restructure the entire sector,” Elloumi Rekik continued. To this end, numerous partnership agreements have been signed in order to improve the quality of services in tourist resorts and broaden supply, including in the cultural sector. The ministry…

Turkey laptop ban lifted on certain flights

UK officials said the restrictions would remain imposed on all UK-bound flights from Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia The Department for Transport (DfT) announced on Friday (July 28) it had eased its restrictions on the use of large electronic devices on two Turkish carriers – Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines operating from Istanbul and Izmar. Laptops remain banned on services from Istanbul to the UK on carriers such as British Airways and easyJet and from airports popular with British holidaymakers including Bodrum and Dalaman. The DfT said that…

The Economist Highlights Economic Cost of Non-Maghreb

To boost their economic competitiveness in an increasingly globalised world, the normal solution for countries is to take steps towards economic integration, facilitating the flow of goods and investments, only two regions show anomalies from this trend persisting on closing borders and hindering the achievement of their region’s full trade potential: the Korean peninsula and the Maghreb. Indeed, there is a spat of analyses on the cost of non-Maghreb in international media and Think tanks. This time the alarm bell was rang by The Economist, which draws a bill of…

12 Wealth Building Secrets You Need To Know

If you haven’t read the book The Millionaire Next Door, this is an absolute must to put on your reading list.  The bestselling book identifies several common traits that show up many times over among those people who have accumulated wealth.  If you’re thinking mega mansions and yachts, think again.  The “millionaires next door” are people that don’t look the part. They are the people standing behind you in the grocery store line or pumping gas next to you in their “not so fancy” car. For the most part, these people…

New UNSMIL chief warns he will fail if Libyan’s don’t break “vicious cycle”

New UNSMIL chief Ghassan Salamé has warned that his mission will be a failure if Libyans are not prepared to compromise. “Nothing will be achieved if Libya’s leaders are happy to remain in this vicious political cycle,” he warned in an interview on UN radio. However, Salamé insisted that he was coming to work with and for Libya and believed progress could be made. “If their decision is to get out of the cycle, they will find an energetic and creative mind at their service,” he said to the station.…

A land of authenticity and stark diversity

Attributed to different origins, the name Tunis is generally linked to the Berber root which means ‘to lay down or encamp’, and with the northern reaches of the Sahara desert and the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains contained within its borders, it is little wonder that this North African country has been the desired dwelling place of many. With a climate much like Malta’s and a friendly people to match, Tunisia was a much loved destination by the Maltese and it is this beautiful connection between our two peoples…

Tunisian families seek missing migrant relatives

About 500 Tunisians have died trying to reach Europe through perilous sea crossings from North Africa to Europe. Many others remain missing. Tunisian families are seeking the whereabouts of their relatives who left the north African country for a better life in Europe but haven’t been heard from since. About 500 Tunisians have died trying to reach Italy even as the UN Migration Agency says thousands of people have died since January attempting dangerous sea crossings from North Africa to Europe. “I imagined my son with me even when I went on Hajj.…

Dialogue must start soon says State Council

The State Council (SC) has urged the House of Representatives (HoR) to join it in beginning the Dialogue process to amend the Libyan Political Agreement. Libya was in a stalemate and limited compromises based on the LPA had to be made as soon as possible, it said. Its statement is in response to Tuesday’s meeting in Paris between Presidency Council Faiez Serraj and Libya National Army leader Khalifa Hafter, and the ten-point agreement they reached. Article 5 says that there has to be an inclusive political dialogue “in which the House of…