Brussels, 24/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The two Vice-Presidents of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Mrs. P. Napolitano and Mr. P. Schori, who have been in Tunis for the past few days, took note of the considerable economic and social progress made in the country, but at the same time placed emphasis on the "absolute demands" of human rights. The Socialist delegation met governmental authorities (Prime Minister and Foreign Minister) and the Vice-President of the House of Deputies, as well as representatives of civil society (Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights, Association of Democratic Women).
Having observed the economic and social progress, Mrs. Napolitano and Mr. Schori also noted "the undertakings of President Ben Ali towards his people and towards his European partners to develop civil society, revise the press code and facilitate free association". They consider that they had an "open and sincere exchange of views on human rights and freedom of expression" and recommended to their interlocutors at governmental level setting up a dialogue with the relevant NGOs dealing with these issues.
The fact-finding mission comes in the perspective of the debate the European Parliament should be having in June on relations between the EU and Tunisia, with the participation of the Council and Commission. At last week's session, the President of the Socialist Group, Baron Crespo, considered that relations with Tunisia were too important a subject to be dealt with in just a few minutes during an emergency debate and undertook to do all he could for the Council and Commission to be questioned orally, followed by a vote on a resolution, so as to have to a genuine debate.