Resolution on the adoption of the special measure in favour of Tunisia for 2023

The European Parliament voted by 243 votes to 167, with 41 abstentions, a resolution on the adoption of the special measure in favour of Tunisia for 2023.

Under President Kais Saied, Tunisia has experienced an authoritarian reversal and an alarming backslide on democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Over the last year, President Kais Saied has had opposition politicians, judges, media workers and civil society activists arbitrarily arrested and detained.

In the Commission’s press statement of 11 June 2023, budget support in the amount of EUR 150 million to Tunisia was announced. This budget support was announced before the Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and Tunisia was signed. The Commission adopted the special measure using an urgent written procedure.

It should be noted that no informal contact took place between the Commission and Parliament ahead of the adoption of the special measure under an urgent written procedure.

Against this background, Parliament contested the need for an urgent written procedure for the special measure in favour of Tunisia, as the Commission’s initial announcement of the EUR 150 million in budget support was made as early as 11 June 2023, leaving sufficient time to use the normal procedure. It considered that the timing of the launch of this urgent written procedure demonstrates a lack of respect for parliamentary scrutiny and the comitology procedure.

It considered that the political commitment made in the Memorandum of Understanding to pay ‘in full’ the budgetary support for 2023 does not constitute legal grounds for adopting this measure either as a special measure or under an urgent written procedure.

The Commission is called on to provide a detailed, fact-based explanation in the context of the next upcoming high-level geopolitical dialogue of why no informal contact took place between the Commission and Parliament ahead of the adoption of the special measure under an urgent written procedure.

Moreover, Parliament requested that the Commission:

- clarify in writing how it assesses that Tunisia currently meets the requirement of the special measure action document relating to fundamental values;

- clarify why it chose to disburse the EUR 150 million in a single tranche, rather than permitting a gradual disbursement based on concrete milestones or steps achieved, forestalling the option to suspend further disbursements should a clear erosion of fundamental values be observed;

- explain how the special measure will contribute to improving the business and investment climate in the light of the deterioration of the rule of law in Tunisia since July 2021, which is a roadblock to economic development;

- clarify the reasons why the Tunisian authorities rejected and returned EUR 60 million in budget support disbursed under the COVID facility in October 2023, and on what grounds the Commission believes that the Tunisian authorities are willing to accept the budget support provided for in this special measure;

- clarify what guarantees it has received from the Tunisian authorities that Parliament will be allowed to visit EU-funded project sites in Tunisia and thus exercise its rights of oversight and scrutiny;

- clarify the situation, by providing a pertinent and comprehensive reply to Parliament’s question for oral answer and this accompanying resolution.