10/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Controversy surrounding head of EU mission in Tunis. On Wednesday 9 February, the French MEP, Hélène Flautre (Greens/EFA) called for the head of the EU delegation in Tunis, Adrianus Koetsenruijter from the Netherlands, to be replaced. The MEP accused him of “collaborating with the Ben Ali regime” and for not having spoken out against human rights violations in this country. Following her visit to the country, Flautre told AFP: “I do not see how he can be the man representing democratic transition. The EU needs a representative in Tunisia who at least has the trust of the actors instigating change”. The head of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Catherine Ashton, under whose direct authority the heads of EU missions work, does not appear to share the opinion of Flautre. The head of the mission in Tunis is a very “committed” man and has carried out his work appropriately, declared Ashton's spokesperson on Wednesday. (H.B./transl.fl)