Brussels, 17/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton seeks to reassure MEPs regarding the application of an amendment to the Criminal Code of Tunisia. According to Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE/NGL, France), the amendment could criminalise relations between human rights defenders and the EU. In her response to the written question submitted by Vergiat on 12 November, Ashton passes on the guarantees given by the Tunisian government to the EU Embassy in Tunis. Further to these contacts, Ashton writes, the Tunisian justice and human rights minister declared in an official release that the law did not aim to restrict freedoms. Ashton states that a close eye will nonetheless be kept on how the amended law is put into practice.
Catherine Ashton went on to point out that the Commission considers the “advanced status” enjoyed by Tunisia in its relations with the EU provides an opportunity to request stronger commitment from Tunisia, especially in the fields of democratic pluralism, governance and respect of human rights. Negotiations with Tunisia are, she said, conducted with this in mind. She also went on to say that her services were keeping the human rights situation in Tunisia under close scrutiny. This subject is regularly tackled with the Tunisian authorities, she said, within the framework of implementation of the association agreement, especially within the subcommittee on human rights and democracy. The Commission, says the high representative and vice-president, considers that open and continuous dialogue on such matters is the best way to achieve the progress expected by both the Tunisian society and the international community. (F.B./transl.jl)