Blinken: I Hope Tunisia Will Present an Amended Reform Plan to the IMF

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Monday that he hopes Tunisia will "submit an amended reform plan to the International Monetary Fund, as it seems to need further assistance." He welcomed the "Tunisian government's submission of an amended reform plan to the IMF, and that the fund can work on the proposed plan, but these are sovereign decisions." He added, "It is clear that Tunisia needs more help if it wants to avoid an economic collapse." Blinken's remarks come after the European Union announced on Sunday that it would assist Tunisia's economy with a loan of over one billion euros ($1.07 billion) to help stabilize its public finances and address the migration crisis, but much of that funding is contingent on approval of economic reforms.