Strasbourg, 30/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a resolution adopted on 29 September, the European Parliament demands that the Tunisian authorities “allow the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH), the Union of Tunisian Journalists and the Association of Tunisian Magistrates to exercise freely their activities and to hold their congress” (see EUROPE 9027 for the declaration published by the EU following the suspension of the League's congress which was due to be held from the 9 to the 11 September in Tunis). In the resolution, the Parliament emphasises that Tunisia is “certainly one of the most advanced countries in the region in terms of economic, social and health policy, and furthermore recognised at an early stage the principle of equality of men and women and the separation of religion and state”, and points out that Tunisia was the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the EU. However, it is forced to observe the lack of progress in granting the funds for several projects: to the LTDH, the IMED (Istituto per il Mediterraneo), the AFTURD (Association of Tunisian women for research and development), and to Santé Sud projects and to modernise the Tunisian justice system. The Parliament therefore demands that the government “immediately unblock Community credits” destined for these projects and invites the Commission to consider “the measures which should be taken if no progress is observed in unblocking these credits”. The Parliament once again declares itself in favour of stepping up political dialogue with Tunisia, and demands that the “EU-Tunisia sub committee on human rights which was created (as part of the Association Agreement) be made fully operational in order to discuss the overall human rights situation, and particularly certain individual cases”.
“It is most unpleasant to present an urgent resolution concerning a country with which we have an Association Agreement”, Belgian socialist Véronique de Keyser acknowledged when opening the debate, at the same time stating that “events forced our hand”. Let us activate the sub-committee on human rights as soon as possible, to allow us to “deal, perhaps in unison, with collective and individual cases” which cause us concern, without having to present urgent resolutions in plenary, Ms de Keyser said. She also appealed to the Tunisian authorities: “Do not consider defenders of human rights as an attack on state security” (“which is also a very flexible concept”, she added). The European Commission, said Laszlo Kovacs, systematically raises the problems mentioned at its meetings with the Tunisian authorities at all levels, and it maintains constant contact with both the authorities and with Tunisian civil society.