The Tunisian Parliament's office convened on Monday, November 2, 2026, for its first ordinary session of the 2026-2027 legislative year. During the meeting, the office decided to refer nine bill proposals to the Finance and Budget Committee, with a request for urgent consideration. These bills relate to approving financing and guarantee agreements between Tunisia and several international financial institutions. The agreements aim to fund projects and programs in the water and energy sectors.
The nine bill proposals include agreements with the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and the French Development Agency. These agreements involve loans and guarantees to support various projects, such as improving the technical and energy efficiency of Tunisia's drinking water network, constructing dams, and developing electricity transmission lines.
One of the approved bills concerns a guarantee agreement with the African Development Bank, signed on September 22, 2026. This agreement relates to a loan for the National Water Exploitation and Distribution Company to improve the efficiency of Tunisia's drinking water network in the Greater Tunis area. Another bill involves a sales agreement with the Islamic Development Bank, signed on May 10, 2026, to fund the construction of dams and related water transfer facilities.
The Parliament's office also approved a guarantee agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, signed on January 15, 2026. This agreement supports a loan to the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company for the ELMED II project, which involves constructing an electricity transmission line between Qarmbalia and Kandar. Additionally, a guarantee agreement with the European Investment Bank, signed on April 28, 2025, will support a loan to the National Water Exploitation and Distribution Company for a water treatment plant project.
Other approved bills include a guarantee agreement with the French Development Agency, signed on February 19, 2026, for a loan to the National Water Exploitation and Distribution Company. This loan will fund a project to strengthen water treatment and distribution infrastructure. The Parliament's office also approved a financing agreement with the European Investment Bank, signed on April 28, 2025, to support a program enhancing and securing drinking water supply in Greater Tunis.
Furthermore, the office approved a loan agreement with the French Development Agency, signed on September 12, 2025, for the same program. Another guarantee agreement with the French Development Agency, signed on February 19, 2026, will support an additional loan for the program. A guarantee agreement with the Maghreb Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade, signed on January 6, 2026, will also be approved.
The Parliament's office decided to prepare a unified report on certain bill proposals, including numbers 64, 69, 70, and 71 of 2026. A separate report will be prepared for bill proposals 67 and 68 of 2026. These reports will be submitted for consideration by the relevant parliamentary committees.
Key points
- Tunisia's parliament office approves nine finance and budget bills to fund water and energy projects.
- The approved bills involve agreements with international financial institutions, including the African Development Bank and the French Development Agency.
- The projects aim to improve drinking water supply, construct dams, and develop electricity transmission lines in Tunisia.
