Brussels, 03/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - There is reason to believe that the Tunisian and European civil societies are rallying against the “mobility” agreement, the signing of which - originally announced for 5 December - could now be postponed. At this stage, a “political agreement” exists between the EU and Tunisia, which indicates that details remain to be negotiated. The agreement does, however, establish the main objective which is to trigger cooperation not only in order to facilitate limited access by Tunisians to European territory but also to make it an obligation for Tunisia to curb the flow of migrants from countries further south. Civil society associations regret that they were not consulted on this and demand to be so. Regarding the substance of the agreement, they are clearly reticent.
Taking a stance against the agreement are: the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), Migreurop, the European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), plus the main Tunisian trade union (UGTT), the Ligue Tunisienne des droits de l'Homme (LTDH) and several other civil society associations. They point to what they consider to be a flagrant breach of international law.
The associations call on the EU to put an end to its policy of externalising controls on migrants. It must, they write in a joint text, make in-depth corrections to the security approach of its migration management policy. It is also called upon to suspend talks with Tunisia until it has stable authorities and an elected parliamentary assembly with all the necessary powers in these areas. Prior to this, they say, Tunisia should come into line with international standards in relation to migration, and above all they request that the re-entry clause be removed so that the EU is not empowered to demand it and so that Tunisia will not have to agree to sign it. The EU must, the associations say, commit to a real mobility policy for Tunisians, a policy which is not simply limited to very qualified persons but would concern all nationals of Tunisia.
The civil society associations say that Tunisia, on the other hand, must adopt a moratorium and suspend migratory agreements underway or being discussed with the EU or with member states as they are said to be in breach of the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and would therefore, under the circumstances, run counter to international treaties. (FB/transl.jl)