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Tunisia commits to natural resource transparency through EITI

Tunisia commits to natural resource transparency through EITI

Tunisia’s Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali announced late last Friday his government’s decision to implement the EITI, the global transparency standard.

Tunisia will thereby introduce transparency of the payments for its natural resources and become the first democracy emerging out of the Arab Spring to do so.

This means citizens in Tunisia will be able to see how much money their government receives from oil, gas and mining operations, joining citizens in 35 countries that already have their own EITI.

EITI Chair Clare Short applauded the news.

 “EITI will introduce more transparency to the natural resource sector in Tunisia. It will help to ensure that their resources are managed for the benefit of the people.”

“The decision to implement the EITI is further evidence of the government’s commitment to improve governance and fight corruption.”

“Again Tunisia is providing leadership to the region and I hope that others will follow Tunisia's example,” Ms Short said. 

The announcement followed meetings between Ms Short and Tunisian President, Moncef Marzouki, the Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali, and the Minister for Good Governance and for the Fight Against Corruption, Abderrahmene Ladghame.

Speaking at a meeting with Tunisian civil society organisations the same day, Ms Short commended the determination of Tunisian civil society organisations who were the first to advocate for EITI in Tunisia.

The President of the Tunisian Association for Transparency in Energy and Mining (ATTEM), Sofiane Reguigui said:

“All the civil society organisations that met today have high hopes that EITI implementation can finally lead to a healthy management of the extractive industries in our country.”

The EITI is a global coalition of governments, companies, civil society groups, investors and international organisations. Together, they have developed the EITI standard, which ensures that companies publish what they pay and governments disclose what they receive from natural resources.

 

Notes to Editors

  1. Media enquiries can be addressed to Communications Manager Anders Tunold Kråkenes at the EITI International Secretariat, +47 4666 2888 or akrakenes@eiti.org.
  2. Ms Short was elected Chair of the international EITI Board in March 2011. Ms Short was the UK Secretary of State for International Development (1997-2003). Her bio is available at http://eiti.org/cshort.