Brussels, 25/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - The 13th Euro-Tunisian parliamentary meetings were held in Brussels on 24 March, bringing together members of the European parliamentary delegation for cooperation with the Maghreb, chaired by Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, Italy), and a delegation of Tunisian representatives from various committees, headed by Salah Tabarki (RCD) who chairs the committee on political affairs, human rights and external relations, and including representatives of three parliamentary opposition parties (MDS, PUP, Greens for Progress).
During a first session, in which the European Parliament's committee on foreign affairs was involved in the person of the committee chairperson, Gabriele Albertini (EPP, Italy), discussion mainly focused on economic matters. Toma Dupla del Moral, who is director for the Mediterranean at the European Commission, gave a complete picture of relations with Tunisia. He said Tunisia was one of the most dynamic countries of the region despite a generally difficult economic and political situation, and despite the fact that Europe is putting some order into its institutional affairs, meaning that it moves forward step by well calculated step. The Parliament will be kept informed of what the Commission plans to do in response to Tunisia's request to accede to “advanced status”, after the fashion of Morocco. Collaboration with Tunisia is at a high level in some fields but must progress in others, Dupla said. He explained that the initiative put forward for scrutiny will be “ambitious” and should be defined in more concrete terms during later talks in order to result in the setting up of a roadmap, extending discussion under way within thematic subcommittees. Dupla finally pointed out the recent decision to reserve €240 million for Tunisia under the European financial programme for the period 2011-2013.
As the session opened, Salah Tabarki, who was ready to talk without conditions and without taboos, presented the image of a Tunisia that sees itself as a direct and motivated player of the Euro-Mediterranean process and a credible partner in political dialogue covering all aspects - political, economic, social and cultural - and including human rights. All these rights are to be judged in an overall manner and none must be taken separately, he added, calling for respect of dialogue, respect of specificity and respect of sovereign choices. A lengthy debate covering every subject (except that of immigration due to lack of time) was held until late in the day to cover Maghreb's integration in particular. Vincent Peillon (S&D, Fance), who is rapporteur on the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), stressed the need in this debate to put more emphasis on Euro-Maghreb cooperation. Malika Benarab-Attou (Greens/EFA, France) spoke of environmental policy, while Carmen Romero (S&D, Spain) drew attention to job creation, and Salvatore Iacolino (EPP, Italy), who is shadow rapporteur for his group on UfM, spoke of the general Euro-Mediterranean framework.
During a second session, Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, Finland), who chairs the subcommittee on human rights, pointed out the duties incumbent upon each and everyone as set out in the association agreements and implying continued pursuit of reform and democratic breakthroughs. “The most important thing is to practise democracy”, Romero added. A calm debate was opened on this theme, during which the virtues of taboo-free dialogue were extolled by all. The head of the Tunisian delegation called for this kind of dialogue. (F.B./transl.jl)