Brussels, 27/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 26 January, the EU sent a high-level mission to Tunis, headed up by Hugues Mingarelli, the operational director for the Mediterranean-Middle East area, to ask the transition authorities, which have been set in place in the wake of the fundamental political changes that occurred on 14 January, about its short-term requirements. In the longer term, it will also reflect on a resumption of cooperation on a new basis, with the offer of a financial commitment and sending experts to support the planned political and economic reforms.
The European Commission will also contact the representatives of various political forces, civil society and the unions. Together with representatives of the three commissions in place in Tunisia since the flight of former president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, it will look at the conditions under which the EU could support their work. The tasks of the three commissions are as follows: 1) immediate political reforms and constitutional legality; 2) corruption and fraud committed by the former head of State and his entourage; 3) responsibility for the crisis which has rocked Tunisia. Talks are planned with the former political opposition parties, the UGTT, and with human rights and liberties defence NGOs, the Order of Advocates and the Union of Journalists.
This information, which was given in a press release on behalf of the high representative, was delivered in the afternoon by Commissioner Stefan Füle, speaking before the committee on foreign affairs of the European Parliament. “The initial measures taken by the transitional government of Tunisia are steps in the right direction”, he said, calling for “governance, respect of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, as well as economic and social reforms”. He stressed that it is over this issue that negotiations on the “advanced status” were floundering. Tunisia was then calling for the right to keep in place its acquis, in other words to maintain the status quo which was already hard for the Europeans to accept. “The EU is ready to support the transition process, including the organisation of free, transparent and democratic elections as soon as the right conditions are met. We are willing to provide our political, legal, technical and material support that Tunisia would identify in order to prepare and organise the elections”. And also, “adapting our financial cooperation to meet the new needs of the country and reinforcing our support to Tunisian civil society”. “We are also considering other measures the EU could take to support the transition”, added the commissioner, who referred in particular to “freezing of assets and travel ban on persons identified in coordination with the Tunisian authorities”.
He also indicated that “the next step will be a visit at political level”, from Ashton or himself, “as soon as circumstances allow”. Before the MEPs, he reiterated a commitment to stand alongside Tunisia, which is just gone through a “unique historical turning point”, which he compared to the experiences of his own country. (F.B./transl.fl)