Brussels, 17/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - The 11th session of the EU-Tunisia Association Council, in Brussels on Tuesday 17 March, served more for the parties' mutual reassurance as regards intentions to continue and deepen their relationship than for taking new decisions. The partners stated their shared resolve to contribute to the region's security - a region which is marked by intensification of the inter-Libyan conflict.
Tunisia's foreign affairs minister, Taïeb Baccouche, noted that this was the first session in which the “first government of the Second Tunisian Republic” was participating - as if to mark the desire to launch a new era in which Tunisia intends to work doubly hard to make up for lost time, after four years of upheavals. Only a memorandum of understanding was signed to ensure Tunisian participation in the EU's research and development programmes and various areas of common European action. A phase is beginning for which European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn will set the directions and roadmap using the new ideas to be stamped on the reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) - which is currently being discussed with the partner countries. Hahn is to visit Tunis in April.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has also increased the number of reassuring proposals with regard to Tunisia, stating that there are “shared opportunities and challenges” for both parties. There is also a “common vision” both on the bilateral relationship and on the challenge of regional security. During a press conference, Mogherini sidestepped questions on the technical content of the discussions - especially the call to relaunch the negotiations, which are still viewed unfavourably by the Tunisian people and decision-makers. The option that is often mentioned would be to deepen the existing cooperation as a preliminary step, before venturing into unexplored territory. Baccouche is nevertheless optimistic and is counting on the political stability that the country has regained (he assures) in order to progress further on cooperation that is regarded as a priority.
According to a direct witness, the discussions during the Council session were dominated for over half the time by the Libyan issue. In response to a press question, Mogherini said that she does not envisage one regional action against terrorism (as a recent European undertaking in Tunis had implied) but a series of actions in cooperation with each of the states. Tunisia has already received an offer for strengthening its capacities for action in this area. There is nevertheless the “need for a permanent dialogue on the regional dynamics”, Mogherini stated. Also questioned on immigration, Baccouche did not close the door on the idea of setting up a centre in his country for asylum candidates for Europe, while waiting for their files to be examined. “To be discussed”, he said. (Fathi B'Chir)