Don't condemn the past. Ah, populist sloganeering! A certain dose can be understood in the Tunisian affair - I would say that it is even essential. A popular uprising against a repressive regime, tyrants leaving or having to flee, the forward march of freedom and democracy - how can this not be celebrated with a certain enthusiasm? The hint of exaggeration, however, appears with the simultaneous insults heaped upon previous EU cooperation with the ousted regime and European support for the Tunisian economy.
We are aware that previous cooperation was regularly underpinned by condemnation of the shortcomings in Tunisia's domestic situation. Restrictions on freedom and abuses committed by the previous regime were regularly denounced, often robustly, by European bodies seeking to ensure respect for human rights. Opponents of this regime in Europe were also free to demand freedom of the press and the rights of the opposition to play a role. There are, however, at least three reasons that explain the line taken by the Community institutions and the member states:
a) Mr Ben Ali and his party were members of the Socialist International, which hastily expelled them on 17 January, following the people's uprising. It would have been difficult for the EU to officially repudiate the regime that had the approval of the Socialist International;
b) In a few other similar cases, the EU's behaviour corresponds to relations it had with Tunisia. China is the first spectacular example of this kind that comes to mind. In its meetings with the Chinese authorities, Europe never forgets to mention shortcomings in freedom and human rights. In this context, economic and more recently financial cooperation has developed and strengthened. It would not be exaggerated to describe this evolution as quite amazing (China's purchase of treasury bonds from EU countries experiencing difficulty). Are those wringing their hands with indignation about Tunisia, after the event, doing the same in equal measure with regard to China? Or could this indignation be interpreted as being rather selective and therefore hypocritical?
c) The EU's co-operation with Tunisia represents an essential factor in Tunisian economic prospects and one of the rare opportunities for young people who have dared to rebel. These prospects were and remain largely linked to EU economic and financial cooperation. Sitting in Brussels or Strasbourg, it is easy to condemn the “advanced status” partnership project. For young women in Tunisia, the European textile and clothing industry finishing process represents thousands of jobs and the tourist industry provides employment for many young men. There is also the manufacture of components and spare parts for the car industry. These are essential areas of employment for young Tunisians, which would not exist if the EU had, with a great flourish of dignity, refused to cooperate with the former regime, while waiting for something better to develop.
A largely positive financial situation. Certainly, the degree of freedom and accomplishment made by young Tunisians will on its own help develop prospects (with the hope that the announced election results do not go in the direction of the similar and previous case of Algeria, with the victory of religious fanatics), helped by the restitution of the wealth stolen by the tyrant, his family and entourage. What should we think of this ignoble woman who (if news reports are accurate) took flight with a ton and a half of gold stolen from her country? Whatever happens, she will get her just deserts.
One observer of the financial situation in Tunisia wrote that “the disappearance of the parasites should help remove the barriers and improve our country's rating”. There is no overwhelming debt (it is not expected to be above 47% of gross domestic product) and the country is expected to be able easily to refinance the $775 million debt (whose repayment deadline is approaching) by April or September. There is a lot of foreign investment and growth remains healthy. Notwithstanding some of the artificially created controversy, everything would suggest that prospects are reasonably positive but only if the new political regime currently being set up is wise and indeed confirms and strengthens its links with Europe in the direction of the advanced partnership. (F.R./transl.fl)