(TAP) - The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh Thursday approved five draft decree-laws and a draft government decree, said government spokesperson Asma Shiri Laabidi.

One of the draft decree-laws approved provides for measures to benefit the tourism and handicrafts sectors and another concerns derogatory provisions relating to travel agencies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the spokesperson said in a video posted on the government\\'s website.

The Cabinet meeting also looked at a draft decree law on the electronic transmission of data and documents, she added.

Shiri said particular emphasis was placed on a presentation made by the Minister of Finance on the state of public finances, without giving further details.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the need to "continue to show rigour and to monitor" the implementation of provisions relating to the 2nd phase of targeted lockdown, the government spokesperson said, recalling that this phase will run from May 25, to June 4, 2020.

Minister Asma Shiri said the meeting also emphasised the need to comply with the measures banning inter-city travel, especially during the Eid period, in order to avoid the risk of infection.

She stressed that strict observance of this measure will be ensured and law will be applied to offenders.

The texts approved by the Cabinet meeting consist of:

/ A decree-law ratifying the loan agreement signed on May 11, 2020 in Tunis between the Tunisian Republic and the IBRD to finance the COVID-19 pandemic project;

/ A decree-law enacting additional measures to support businesses affected by the pandemic and providing for a set of additional measures to assist public enterprises and specific provisions relating to companies in the tourism and handicrafts sectors;

/ A draft Decree-Law laying down derogatory provisions relating to the electronic transmission of data and documents between public bodies and those exchanged between the latter and their counterparts, giving legal force to the electronic document, in addition to the digitisation of the process of administrative transactions;

/ A draft decree-law laying down specific and derogatory provisions relating to the activity of travel agencies. The purpose of the text is to freeze the application of the sanction of temporary suspension of activity in the event of failure to respect the commitments made to customers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

It also aims o allow customers of travel agencies to obtain vouchers for travel reservations, stays or excursions, while giving them the possibility of extending the time limits for the provision of services to which they could not have had access as a result of the pandemic;

/ A draft decree-law setting out the provisions for the extension of concession contracts;

/ A draft government decree appointing the members of a provisional administrative committee for the municipalities of Kesra (Siliana governorate) and Hassi El Frid (Kasserine governorate).