EU-Tunisia deal under threat amid frustration with President Saied

The EU’s controversial ‘cash for migrant control’ deal with Tunisia is looking increasingly fragile amid growing frustration in Brussels with President Kais Saied’s erratic behaviour in recent weeks.

On Thursday (5 October), EU Neighbourhood Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi said that Tunisia was free to “wire back” €60 million in EU funds that were transferred to Tunis this week as part of the pact after President Kais Saied dismissed the sum as “derisory” and “charity”.

“Tunisia, which accepts cooperation, does not accept anything resembling charity or favour, because our country and our people do not want sympathy and do not accept it when it is without respect,” Saied said in a statement.

It is not clear whether Saied is seeking to re-open the financial settlement agreed with the European Commission, which provides for up to €785 million in budget support and investment.

The EU executive added that the €60 million sum had been formally requested by Tunisia’s Finance Minister Samir Saïed on 31 August.

In posts on the social media network X, Várhelyi stated that “(the) EU values its partnership (with) Tunisia & stands ready to cooperate in the spirit of genuine partnership”.

“Implementation of the (memorandum) should continue once Tunisia returns to the spirit of our strategic & comprehensive partnership based on mutual respect,” he added.

A second European Parliament delegation was refused entry to Tunisia earlier this week without any explanation given.

The €785 million ‘cash for migrant control’ agreement between Brussels and Tunis was brokered by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen together with Dutch and Italian premiers Mark Rutte and Giorgia Meloni.

Under the deal, the Memorandum of Understanding finalised in mid-July, the EU will provide financial support for Tunisia’s economy and projects for underwater fibre-optic and electricity cables between the EU and North Africa, in exchange for cooperation on migration control.

EU leaders endorsed the Tunisia deal at a June summit in Brussels, and the Commission has indicated that it wants to secure similar agreements with Egypt and other North African states.

Although some EU lawmakers have publicly expressed concern about the crackdown on political opponents and civil society in Tunisia since the president sacked parliament and government in July 2021 and began to rule by decree, the main political groups in the European Parliament support the deal.

“There is no alternative for us as to use the MoU as a base to continue our work,” EPP leader Manfred Weber, who made his own visit for meetings with President Saied and other Tunisian ministers in August, told reporters in Strasbourg this week.

Weber also called for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron to publicly endorse the agreement with Tunisia.

“I would really love to see Olaf Scholz flying to Tunisia to give a clear indication that: yes, he wants to solve the problems together. Especially when the Tunisian partners are looking for investments in Tunisia, jobs to come, the confirmation from the German side is crucial,” said Weber.

However, MEPs and the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, have demanded that the EU executive must have safeguards to protect human rights as part of the agreement.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]