Brussels, 10/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Tunisian civil society groups are mobilising against the mobility agreement signed last week between the EU and Tunisia.
In a letter sent to the new prime minister, civil society accused him of having “dared to do” what the previous government had refrained from signing.
Initial criticism focused on the absence of consultation, particularly with democratic rights organisations. The second part of the criticism concentrated on the agreement's “security approach” which “is another way of imposing externalisation of migration controls” imposed by the EU against the interests and image of a country that has recently become democratic, explained certain sources in Tunis.
The different groups are therefore attacking this agreement for having been signed in a hurry and which is against the interests of the country. They also explain that the agreement is in the interest of “an unworthy and selfish immigration policy that is happy to organise a brain drain of young graduates with long-term visas” while “thousands of young people crossing the Mediterranean whilst putting their lives in peril are excluded from the agreement, while their legitimate demands to examine their respective situations go ignored”. Tunisia will therefore be “obliged to participate in a repressive EU policy and accept the repatriation of irregular migrants, whatever their nationality”. An appeal has been made against this “unambiguous blackmail”. “All ANC MPs are being called on not to ratify it” when it is presented to them for examination.
Tunisian officials, however, have adopted a different approach, even though not all their fears have been dispelled. It is pointed out that there has not yet been any “political agreement” on the basis of which they can open negotiations. Tunisia “is hoping that implementation of this agreement through targeted action will respond, at least in a balanced way, to its expectations and priorities for migration, employment and solidarity based development”. It is therefore “quite aware of the challenges it will have to face in the areas of illegal immigration”. The concession the Commission managed to narrowly obtain with regard to the readmission agreement, according to one Tunisian source, will ensure that this policy is carried out prudently and carefully. Tunisia says that “the fight against illegal immigration and the trafficking of migrants is inevitably linked to a joint effort to develop the regions with strong migratory potential and the setting up of substantial investment projects” which have been co-signed in the agreement. Tunisia has said that “an exclusively security approach will never serve our mutual interests”.
The text signed last Monday highlights the intention to “develop cooperation in the area of readmission, by implementing existing obligations between Tunisia and EU member states”. According to one analysis carried out in Tunisia, the country will not go any further than that conceded by neighbouring countries, particularly Italy, with which long-standing cooperation already exists (this cooperation was solemnly reaffirmed by the new president of the Italian Council, whose first foreign visit will be made to Tunisia). Tunisia is not prepared to “conclude an EU-Tunisia readmission agreement” unless it, “complies with EU standards”, including those for human rights that are carefully controlled by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.
The Tunisian groups have decided to “mobilise Tunisian civil society as part of the follow up in EU-Tunisia relations”. A series of meetings will involve European civil society and the European institutions, which is programmed from now until the end of the year. One of the major challenges will include the debt issue. (FB)