Tunis — Consultations to define the guidelines of a "Higher Emigration Council" started, on Monday, between government members and associations working on the emigration file, a project which was announced by the Interim government last June.

These consultations brought together representatives from around 300 Tunisian associations abroad as well as local associations, 28 investment groups and government members, namely the Social Affairs Ministry, the Secretariat of State in charge of Immigration and Tunisian Expatriates, and the Tunisian Expatriates' Board.

Karim Azzouz, chargé de mission at the Secretariat of State to Immigration and Tunisian Expatriates pointed out that "the council will have an advisory role of informing the government about the situation of Tunisian expatriates and expressing opinions about the relevant laws, while monitoring the assessment of the government's role in the immigration field".

According to Mr. Azzouz, the council will be made up of 70 to 100 members representing Tunisian expatriates in the various hosting countries, adding that consultations will continue over the coming three months.

In turn, Secretary of State in charge of Immigration and Tunisian Expatriates Houcine Jaziri said that the council aimed to help Tunisian expatriates and associations participate in reviewing all the bilateral and multilateral conventions in the field of immigration to start shortly.