The European Union’s (EU) foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, is seeking €2.5 billion of extra loans, Reuters reports. The funding will be used to support reforms in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries in North Africa.

Ashton is in talks with the EU’s financing arm, European Investment Bank (EIB), to mobilize €1 billion for Tunisia. She is also in discussion with EU member states and the European Parliament for an extra €1 billion of EIB lending for North Africa and the Middle East, including Egypt.

Click here for the story from Reuters.