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Opening remarks 

Thank you, President, Honourable Members [of the European Parliament],  

The European Union has built a solid and long-standing partnership with Tunisia, one of our closest southern neighbours. Due to this proximity, what happens in Tunisia may also have implications on the European Union. It is therefore extremely important that the European Union continues to support the Tunisian population in this challenging socio-economic context. 

Since 2011, the European Union has invested significantly in the country – both politically and financially –, and for the right reasons. Our aim is to build a true partnership of equals and we have worked hand in hand with Tunisia to make progress across the board of our wide-ranging relations – as we did when agreeing on a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership in July of last year.  

The Joint priority remains to continue advancing in the implementation of the Strategic partnership across its five pillars, within the overall framework of the Association Agreement: macro-economic stability; trade and economy; green energy transition; people-to-people contacts and migration and mobility.  

Presidential elections took place in Tunisia on the 6^th of October and, as announced by the Electoral Commission (ISIE), Kais Saied obtained 90.69 per cent of the votes cast, with a voter turnout of 28.8 per cent.  

The European Union has taken note of the announced results, but also of the controversies around the electoral process: with the imprisonment of some presidential candidates, the exclusion of others and a competition between the Election Commission (ISIE) and the Administrative Tribunal over who has the final word on the eligibility of candidates. 

Furthermore, the Tunisian parliament passed a law ten days before the elections that transferred authority for settling electoral disputes from the Administrative Tribunal to the Tunis Appeals Court. Such an important change to the electoral framework so late in the electoral process is clearly not in line with best practices and international standards on democratic elections. 

The low voter turnout is striking, particularly that of young voters: according to preliminary data, only 6 per cent of Tunisians aged 18 to 35 cast their ballot. This follows similar outcomes already seen during the constitutional referendum in 2022, being 30 per cent, and the legislative elections in 2023, with only 11 per cent. This indicates a persistent disaffection among the Tunisian electorate. 

Since 2021, the European Union has regularly raised matters of concern with the Tunisian authorities, mainly in direct conversations with them, but also publicly, through statements and declarations of the High Representative[/Vice-President Josep] Borrell, on behalf of the 27 Member States.  

The European Union maintains a keen interest in the continued strengthening of its Strategic partnership with Tunisia. It is in our interest to continue effective and comprehensive cooperation in various sectors, in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2023.  

It is very important to keep channels of communication between the European Union and Tunisia open. We will continue to do so.  

Thank you. 

Link to video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-262615 

Closing remarks 

Thank you, President, Honourable Members,  

This debate continues to confirm the importance of our Strategic partnership with Tunisia – which we need to continue to strengthen – and some of the challenges we are facing and need to address together. We need to maintain a balance and pursue both in parallel.  

The lack of protection, the suspension of registrations of migrants by UNHCR, and the targeting of civil society organisations supporting migrants, included some funded by the European Union, are of course all of very serious concern. We will continue to raise these issues with the Tunisian authorities. 

The respect and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms are at the core of our relations with all third countries, and are addressed through dialogue with governments through targeted development assistance aimed at protecting the human rights of the population.  

Tunisia remains a key partner in the European Union’s Southern neighbourhood and we will continue to support the Tunisian population in a challenging socio-economic context. 

Thank you. 

Link to video:https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-262617