In stunning move, Tunisia snubs Brussels and refunds €60 million in EU aid

"The Commission has been informed that Tunisia returned the payment of 60 million euros," said Ana Pisonero, the Commission's spokesperson for enlargement and neighbourhood, without specifying a reason for the repayment.

"Contacts and discussions are ongoing."

Asked if something like this has ever happened before with a non-EU country, the spokesperson said "as far as we are aware, no."

The Tunisian Foreign Affairs Ministry did not immediately reply to emailed questions.

The grants, which come from a previous COVID-19 recovery programme, were designed as budget support and were directly transferred to the bank account of the Tunisian treasury. This was supposed to be the first disbursement of a larger €127-million tranche that also includes money earmarked under the EU-Tunisia memorandum of understanding signed in July.

But days after the European Commission announced the €127-million envelope in late September, Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed the financial offer, saying it was "derisory" and contrary to the agreement.

"Tunisia, which accepts cooperation, does not accept anything resembling charity or favour, because our country and our people do not want sympathy and do not accept it when it is without respect," Saied said last week.

"Consequently, Tunisia refuses what has been announced in recent days by the EU."

The blunt remarks were widely covered by the media and sparked outrage in Brussels, where the memorandum has been touted as a blueprint for future agreements with neighbouring countries to stem migration flows.

In a bid to control the spiralling narrative, the Commission said on the record that €60 million had been effectively paid in budgetary support "following a request from the Tunisian government on the