The EU and Tunisia intend to move ahead with a "reappraisal" of their association agreement. The process of reflection on the future of this relationship, which is considered an important relationship given the value Tunisia puts on its political and trade cooperation with the EU, will begin on 11 May 2017. An Association Council session will take place in Brussels, and Tunisia will call for a "qualitative leap" in its relationship with its "strategic partner", Europe.
A preparatory meeting (Association committee) took place in Tunis on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 April to set an agenda and to propose a "roadmap".
Chaired by the European External Action Service (EEAS) deputy managing director Colin Scicluna and the general director responsible for relations with Europe at Tunisia's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mohamed Mezghani, the committee set out three areas for work, according to EUROPE's sources. In first place, it set out the urgency of containing the Tunisian trade deficit, which will reportedly reach nearly half the state budget (13 million dinars) in 2015.
The need to correct this trend is aimed especially at limiting the debt of a Tunisia that is forced to be more indebted in order to finance its imports, even though they are limited to products that are much needed. This makes Tunisia's deficit worse with its main trade partners. The EU is not on the front line (which is headed by China and Turkey) but it is often cited as a privileged trade partner with which Tunisia wants to conclude a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA). Several member states have already taken account of this situation by allowing a conversion of bilateral debt.
There are hopes of flexibility (rules of origin, and the use of GSP – the generalised scheme of preferences – if necessary) as well as support to diversification within the internal market. Another aspect is that Tunisian exports remain focused on "traditional" countries (mainly France), which absorb 80% of Tunisian sales to the EU area. There is also a request for greater attention to be paid to the gradual loss of Tunisia's market share within the EU.
The second area focuses on deepening cooperation. Tunisia wants this to put more emphasis on young people and fostering work exchanges and twinnings involving civil society. There are also hopes of opening up the culture economy and the professional training sector.
Furthermore, the "roadmap" suggests opening a reflection – a "reappraisal" – to enhance the quality of the relationship. The time is reportedly right for correcting the shortfalls that are so deplored in the "neighbourhood policy". The effectiveness of this policy is not said to be fully convincing and there is reportedly a need to adapt it to the realities of the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)