Sep 14, 2023 at 7:00 PM Update: 25 minutes ago
Tunisia refuses to admit a group of MEPs. The group wanted to discuss, among other things, human rights and the migration agreement between the Tunisians and the European Union.
The Social Democrats in the European Parliament are outraged. They were already unhappy about the migration agreement, but now want the agreement to be torn up immediately.
PvdA member Thijs Reuten asks the European Commission to suspend contacts with the Tunisian government. His GroenLinks colleague Tineke Strik wants government leaders to call Tunis to order.
There is a lot of criticism of the migration deal, which was concluded two months ago by EC President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his Italian colleague Giorgia Meloni. Tunisia will receive more than 1 billion euros to combat life-threatening human smuggling across the Mediterranean.
But according to opponents, Tunisian President Kais Saied shows signs of a dictator and is inciting his compatriots with racist language against refugees and other migrants. Doubts are also growing on the right as more, rather than fewer, people risk the dangerous crossing from Tunisia to Europe.
Because the European Parliament’s foreign specialists are not welcome in Tunisia, the Social Democrats believe that Von der Leyen should immediately suspend the migration deal. Among the specialists who would travel to the country are also outspoken critics of the Tunisian government.
MEP Reuten advocates going one step further and also ceasing consultations between the Commission and Tunis.
The European Commission wants to continue talking to Tunis
In addition to the European Commission, EU countries should also take action, Strik believes. “The Commission and leaders of EU countries should address President Saied and put pressure on him. This is of course too absurd for words.”
GroenLinkser Strik says something similar happened to him in June during a working visit to Tunisia. After her criticism of the migration deal and the poor state of human rights in the North African country, her appointments with government officials were canceled.
The European Commission is unpleasantly surprised by the decision. “This came as a surprise to us. Our ambassador in Tunis immediately stated that he regretted this,” said a spokesperson.
The Commission ignores the request to sever contact with Tunisia. According to her, the friction makes it all the more important to keep talking to each other.
2023-09-14 17:00:11
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