Brussels, 13/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - A European Parliament mission will be visiting Tunisia on 14-17 September against a background of political tension in the country following the Congress' ban of a human rights organisation, La Ligue des droits de l'homme, and incidents involving reporters and magistrates (see EUROPE 9023). The five-man mission of members of the European Parliament's delegation for cooperation with Maghreb countries (North Africa) and the UMA ('Union du Maghreb Arabe' - Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Mauritania), headed by Spanish EPP-ED MEP Luisa Fernanda Rubi Ubeda, will meet with the Tunisian authorities (the executive and parliamentarians) and Tunisian NGOs and opposition leaders.
The mission is one in a series of regular visits by the European Parliament's delegation for the Maghreb, but has taken on additional significance in the current set-up with issues surrounding democracy and human rights taking centre stage. The five MEPs will also be meeting EU diplomats serving in Tunis. In Brussels on Tuesday, the delegation outlined its schedule and was briefed by the European Commission on the political and economic situation in Tunisia and developments in the EU's relations with the country. On behalf of the European Commission, Leonora Vieira Sousa said that Tunisia was the first country to sign an Association Agreement with the EU (and more recently, a European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan) and wanted to be seen as a pioneer in relations with the EU, demonstrating huge economic efficiency but also huge delays in terms of politics and freedom. She outlined the conditions negotiated for Tunisia's Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy, establishing political developments to be implemented in return for EU aid. She said the Action Plan established a specific framework for structured dialogue to create a human rights subcommittee in the near future. Viera Sousa hoped there would be a balanced approach to the EU's relations with Tunisia. Four other subcommittees have been set up in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, on transport and the environment; trade and services; immigration; and research and innovation.