The controversial migration agreement between the European Union and Tunisia appears to be weakening, as Brussels becomes increasingly irritated by the erratic behavior of Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed.
European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy Olivér Várhelyi said on Thursday (5 October) that Tunisia was free to “return” the 60 million euros in EU funds that were transferred to Tunis this week as part of the agreement after Kaïs Saïed described the sum as “insignificant” and akin to “charity”.
“Tunisia, which accepts cooperation, does not accept anything resembling charity or favor, because our country and our people do not want sympathy and do not accept it when it is without respect “, declared Mr. Saïed in a press release.
At this stage, it is not yet known whether Mr. Saïed could seek to reopen the financial agreement concluded with the European Commission, which provides up to 785 million euros in budgetary aid and investment.
The European executive also wanted to clarify that the sum of 60 million euros had been officially requested by the Tunisian Minister of Finance, Samir Saïed, on August 31.
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“The implementation [of the agreement] should continue once Tunisia returns to the spirit of our strategic and global partnership based on mutual respect,” he added.
A second delegation from the European Parliament was refused entry to Tunisia earlier this week, without any explanation being given.
The 785 million euro agreement between Brussels and Tunis on migrant control was negotiated by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as Dutch and Italian Prime Ministers Mark Rutte and Giorgia Meloni.
Under the memorandum of understanding finalized in mid-July, the EU will provide financial support to the Tunisian economy and to submarine fiber optic and electrical cable projects between the EU and North Africa, in exchange for cooperation in migration control.
EU leaders approved the deal with Tunisia at a June summit in Brussels, and the Commission has indicated it is interested in reaching similar deals with Egypt and other EU states. North Africa.
Although some European lawmakers have publicly expressed concern about the repression of political opponents and civil society in Tunisia since the president dismissed parliament and government in July 2021 and began ruling by decree, major political groups of the European Parliament support the agreement.
“There is no other alternative for us than to use the memorandum of understanding as a basis for continuing our work,” Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People’s Party (EPP), told journalists at Strasbourg this week. He himself visited for meetings with President Saïed and other Tunisian ministers in August.
Mr Weber also called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron to publicly support the Tunisia deal.
“I would really like to see Olaf Scholz go to Tunisia to make it clear that yes, he wants to resolve the problems with us. Particularly when Tunisian partners are looking for investments in Tunisia, for future jobs, confirmation from the German side is crucial ,” said Mr. Weber.
However, MEPs and EU Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly demanded that the EU executive put in place safeguards to protect human rights under the deal.
