On Thursday 1 December, the President of Tunisia, Beji Caïd Essebsi, was a guest of the European Parliament plenary session. The Tunisian President addressed the Assembly and delivered a message of friendship to Europe as a whole, as well as recognition of the support it has given him.
The President of the Parliament said that this was an “historic moment” and praised the attitude of a Tunisia that was “attached to its traditional values and, at the same time, is open to dialogue”. He also asserted that Tunisia shared Europe’s values and was providing “an example”.
Martin Schultz affirmed that during this transition phase “Tunisia is not alone” and praised the “exceptional journey” accomplished by this country that has become “a model of pluralism and tolerance” in an epoch where extremists are sending out a worrying message.
Mr Schultz repeated that with regard to Tunisia, Parliament had made a “political commitment” and that it would also be “closely following” the commitments made by the EU. During his introductory speech, he said “this is no longer just a question of solidarity but the affirmation of our future”.
The Tunisian President made a lengthy appeal on the behalf of his country that is presenting Europe with “a new face”. He asserted that it had “adopted a constitution for a civil state, without religious reference” and “has shown all those who have a phobia of Islam that it is not incompatible with democracy”.
Mr Essebsi explained that his current visit is “strongly symbolic of a Tunisia that is celebrating 40 years of its cooperation” with a Europe that is its “traditional area of anchorage”, with which it has “historic links” and which has turned more towards the future than the past.
Mr Essebsi explained that “democratic transition comes at a price”. Just a few years ago, the country was registering a 5% growth rate but was now suffering from “macro-economic decline”. The Tunisian President also claimed that “traditional instruments are insufficient”. Nonetheless, he paid homage to the EU, particularly the European Parliament for its “specific acknowledgement” of the challenge facing Tunisia. Mr Essebsi made a specific reference to the Parliamentary initiative for a “Marshall plan” to help his country and reconvert its debt. He thanked Europe as a whole for its concrete commitment to the “Tunisia 2020” investment conference that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday in Tunis.
The Tunisian President emphasised the fact that the challenge was also at a regional level and referred to “a phase of doubt and uncertainty” in an “unstable regional context”. Tunisia is at “the forefront of the fight against terrorism and is therefore contributing to Europe’s security”.
Immediately afterwards at the Parliament, President Béji Caïd Essebsi held a bilateral meeting with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini. (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)