The EU’s Misguided Approach in Tunisia: Repeating a Dangerous Mistake

Opinion: The EU‘s Dangerous Mistake in the Tunisia Deal

Introduction

The recent agreement between the European Union (EU) and Tunisia, aimed at curbing migration to Europe, has come under intense criticism for its human rights implications. The deal, signed without any human rights conditions or monitoring mechanisms, has already resulted in dire consequences for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants in Tunisia. It is imperative that European and EU leaders urgently reverse course and acknowledge the moral and legal implications of their misguided approach to migration.

Violations and Silence

Despite the agreement being reached, Tunisian authorities have continued to force migrants to the Libyan border, subjecting them to unimaginable hardships without access to basic necessities. Shockingly, EU leaders have failed to condemn these violations publicly, highlighting their disregard for the human rights of vulnerable individuals. Instead of addressing the root causes of migration and providing adequate support, the EU has chosen to cooperate with Tunisian authorities in preventing refugees from reaching Europe. This perpetuates the same violations and contributes to the hostile environment faced by asylum seekers and migrants in Tunisia.

Lessons Not Learned

The EU seems to have ignored the lessons from its cooperation with Libya, where its support for security forces has made it complicit in the abuse inflicted on migrants and refugees, including torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and unlawful killings. The UN has even suggested that these actions may amount to crimes against humanity. Agreements aimed at containing people in non-EU countries do not save lives or reduce reliance on irregular routes. Instead, they force individuals to undertake more dangerous journeys, while smugglers profit from their desperation. Moreover, such agreements fail to address the underlying issues that drive migration in the first place, ensuring that people will continue to seek safety and security regardless of the barriers in their way.

The Risk of Repression

The EU‘s agreement with Tunisia also risks legitimizing President Kais Saied’s assault on the rule of law and his increasing repression of dissent. As European leaders remained silent, Saied dismantled institutional checks on executive power, restricted free speech, and granted himself extensive control over the judiciary. Scores of critics, opponents, lawyers, journalists, and judges have been subjected to arbitrary criminal investigations or restrictive measures, leading to a chilling effect on freedom of expression and association. Tunisia, once lauded as a success story of the Arab Spring, now risks following Egypt’s path, where President Abdelfattah al-Sisi transformed the country into an open-air prison while inflicting poverty on millions. EU leaders must not repeat the mistake of remaining silent in the face of such abuses.

Lack of Transparency and Legitimacy

The negotiations for the EU–Tunisia agreement were conducted in secret, without the involvement or scrutiny of the European Parliament, national parliaments, or civil society. This lack of transparency undermines the legitimacy of EU migration policies and raises questions about their compliance with human rights standards. To prevent complicity in rights abuses and repression, the EU must ensure that its engagement with partners on migration is contingent upon stringent human rights conditions, impact assessments, and monitoring. A balanced approach is needed, one that expands safe migration pathways and prioritizes the protection of individuals rather than their containment.

Conclusion

The EU‘s agreement with Tunisia represents a dangerous mistake in its approach to migration. By turning a blind eye to human rights violations, both within Tunisia and at its borders, European and EU leaders are failing to uphold their moral obligations. It is not too late for them to reverse course, suspend the Memorandum of Understanding, and prioritize promoting an independent judiciary, a free media, and a vibrant civil society in Tunisia. The logic of externalization, as exemplified by the Tunisia deal, is not only deeply immoral but also potentially unlawful. The EU must learn from past agreements that have caused immense suffering and adopt a more compassionate and rights-respecting approach to migration.