Brussels, 23/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - A press release from the EU delegation in Tunis on Monday 21 September stated that the EU and Tunisia held “an enhanced political dialogue” on “the transnational threat of terrorism”.
The meeting, which was attended on the European side by the EU counter-terrorism coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, and the deputy secretary general of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Christian Leffler, enabled “an update on current cooperation in the field of security, and a discussion on the possible means of further action able to respond to the challenges posed by terrorism and radicalisation”.
This first meeting thus indicates that the two parties are stepping up their cooperation against terrorism at the political and operational level. This cooperation “aims, especially through the exchange of expertise and experience, to contribute to the priorities of the Tunisian authorities and, in particular, the implementation of a true national strategy for fighting terrorism, on the basis of in-depth analyses of the threat and through increased coordination of all the national institutions concerned”.
The EU-Tunisia cooperation also provides for the “development of a comprehensive strategy for the prevention of radicalisation, including the recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters and the issue of their return, by involving all key ministries beyond the security dimension”. There are plans to strengthen “the judicial approach in line with human rights and the rule of law, and to improve the effectiveness of the penal chain”. The EU will also support the reform of the security and intelligence sector to “better assess the terrorist threat” and to improve the protection and level of preparation of infrastructure (tourist, industrial and transport).
The press release states that “clear proposals were presented” by the EU. “Further concrete actions will be implemented swiftly” and “continuous monitoring” will be ensured “at expert level”. A second meeting has been set for the course of 2016. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)