EU grant to revamp disadvantaged Tunisian neighbourhoods

The EU Delegation in Tunisia has made a grant of €32.9 million to Tunisia to renovate 119 neighbourhoods throughout the territory; 700,000 inhabitants of those areas will benefit from the project and will have their living conditions improved. The EU contribution to the funding of the Priority Programme of the Integration of Working-class Areas in Tunisia will enable to build roads as well as sanitation and lighting systems in these 119 neighbourhoods. The programme will also create socio-cultural spaces and sports facilities for the young, as well as spaces devoted to economic and income-generating activities. The ministry of Equipment and the Rehabilitation and Urban Renewal Agency will also benefit from a technical assistance to reinforce their capacities. This programme has an overall cost of €217.5 million. It will be jointly financed by the French Development Agency and the European Investment Bank. Its implementation will last four years starting from 2013. Thanks to an initial disbursement of €11 million by the European Commission, work has already started in more than 30 neighbourhoods Source: albawaba