BETA


2015/2273(INI) EU relations with Tunisia in the current regional context

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET CASTALDO Fabio Massimo (icon: EFDD EFDD) CESA Lorenzo (icon: PPE PPE), PANZERI Pier Antonio (icon: S&D S&D), BASHIR Amjad (icon: ECR ECR), VAUTMANS Hilde (icon: ALDE ALDE), SMITH Alyn (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2016/09/14
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2016/09/14
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 596 votes to 59, with 49 abstentions, a resolution on the EU relations with Tunisia in the current regional context.

Parliament recalled that the peaceful democratic transition process in Tunisia represents a successful example in the Arab world and its consolidation is paramount for the stability of the entire region. Therefore, it renewed its commitment to the Tunisian people and the political transition process that began in 2011.

While supporting the consolidation of the democratic transition and foster investment and development in all sectors of the economy and society in the country, Parliament considered that it is imperative for Tunisia to implement adequate reforms aimed at boosting employment and developing sustainable and inclusive growth.

It stressed the importance of respect for human rights and the relaunch of the political process of integration in the framework of the Arab Maghreb Union.

I - Political reforms and Institutions : Parliament recalled its support for the process of democratisation and for the People’s Representative Assembly (PRA) given the challenge of enhancing stability in a volatile regional context while deepening democracy. It expressed support for a review of the needs of the PRA. The European Parliament’s services should enhance the capacity-building support activities provided to the PRA.

Welcoming an enhanced dialogue between the EU and Tunisia, Members called for measures on:

reforming public administration in the country; democratic transition and development in general; decentralisation and the empowerment of regions; monitoring respect for human rights, including the protection of women and children, gender equality and the protection of all victims of persecution and discrimination.

Parliament called for an EU and EP monitoring mission and election assistance for local elections (scheduled in October 2016). It also called for support for gender-balanced policies and for the inclusion of young people in political life, especially regarding the promotion of youth participation in local elections.

As regards human rights, Parliament called for measures to prevent the use of torture and to abolish the death penalty.

The resolution called for a reform of the penal code which penalises homosexuality .

As regards civil liberties , Parliament called for a reform of the penal code to defend the freedom of expression and freedom of the press and media, freedom of expression online.

II. Economic and social development : Parliament welcomed the Commission’s proposal for macro-financial assistance of EUR 500 million.

It noted the launch of negotiations on an ambitious free trade agreement (DCFTA) between the EU and Tunisia. It called on the Commission to take a progressive approach during the negotiations and ensure that this agreement will be mutually beneficial while taking proper account of the significant economic disparities between the two parties.

Parliament encouraged partnerships with other interested global and regional donor countries and organisations and, in particular, measures reducing regional disparities and promoting training and investment in agriculture, taking into account the specificities of local agriculture, IT, the social economy, the manufacturing sector, tourism and SMEs which would boost employment.

In order to address unemployment, especially for young people, Parliament called for deep reforms with a view to promoting quality education. It called on all parties to maintain a spirit of good cooperation in order to focus on reforms with a view to inclusive economic development for all territories of the country, including the less advanced and impoverished inland regions. The EU is called upon to step up its efforts against desertification in Tunisia and water shortages.

Measures are necessary to combat corruption .

The resolution expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of the Tunisian debt. It called for the conversion of Tunisian debt into investment projects, especially for building strategic infrastructures and reducing regional disparities. It called for further assistance for SMEs, notably access to financial support.

Members also encouraged more North African regional cooperation on specific issues such as afforestation and water management, as well as greater socioeconomic integration, within the context sustainable development.

III. Security and defence : Parliament expressed its deep concern about the immediate security spillover in Tunisia originating, among other reasons, from instability in Libya. It expressed concerns at the high number of Tunisian foreign fighters joining Daesh and other terrorist groups . It is particularly concerned about the situation in Libya and called on all parties in Libya to engage constructively with the Government of National Accord (GNA).

Parliament called on the Tunisian Government to set up a strategy to deal with returning foreign fighters, for example by coupling punitive and precautionary measures with deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes. It recognised that terrorism is a shared challenge which requires a joint response and that cooperation between the EU and Tunisia in the field of security and the fight against terrorism has been stepped up recently.

Members expressed its deepest concern about Law 22/2015 on counter-terrorism, adopted in July 2015 by Tunisia's Assembly of Representatives, which imposes the death penalty as a possible sentence for a range of ‘terror’ offences. The Tunisian authorities are called upon to continue to observe the moratorium on the death penalty and although Tunisia is one of the countries that are most vulnerable to the terrorism threat, states are obliged to fully respect human rights when fighting terrorism.

Parliament recognised that poverty and social exclusion are among the major causes of radicalisation . It called for more effective social inclusion of young people to enable them to find stable employment and prevent them from becoming targets for recruitment as fighters for terrorist organisations. It recommended using the expertise gathered through the initiative of international organisations such as Hedayah to develop local and regional strategies for countering violent extremism.

In parallel, Parliament welcomed the launch, in November 2015, of the EU programme of support for security sector reform in Tunisia. It called for the promotion of a logic of objectives, rather than mere support by policy instruments, within a clear strategic vision focusing on prevention .

IV. Mobility, research, education and culture : Members welcomed the EU and the Tunisia Mobility Partnership signed in March 2014. They recommended that Member States should show their solidarity with Tunisia by facilitating the issuing of visas for entrepreneurs, teachers, students, researchers, artists, etc.

Parliament encouraged the EU to sign mobility partnerships with the partner countries in its southern neighbourhood in order to relax visa procedures in conjunction with readmission agreements. It called on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to develop possibilities for circular migration schemes which would open up safe and legal routes for migrants.

Parliament also condemned trafficking in human beings, most of the victims of which are women, and called on the Tunisian authorities to cooperate closely with Member States in order to tackle organised forms of illegal immigration.

Members underlined that Tunisia should become a full participant in the Erasmus + programme in order to develop further the exchange of university students. Partnerships should be developed among schools, universities and research centres or in the area of culture and sports.

Lastly, Parliament stated that the use of Arabic is necessary to ensure the involvement of civil society in EU-Tunisia relations, in particular in the context of the free trade agreement negotiations.

Documents
2016/09/14
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2016/09/13
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2016/07/26
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT) on the EU relations with Tunisia in the current regional context.

Members recalled that the peaceful democratic transition process in Tunisia represents a successful example in the Arab world and its consolidation is paramount for the stability of the entire region. Therefore, they renew their commitment to the Tunisian people and the political transition process that began in 2011.

While supporting the consolidation of the democratic transition and foster investment and development in all sectors of the economy and society in the country, Members consider that it is imperative for Tunisia to implement adequate reforms aimed at boosting employment and developing sustainable and inclusive growth.

They stressed the importance of respect for human rights and the relaunch of the political process of integration in the framework of the Arab Maghreb Union.

I - Political reforms and Institutions : Members expressed support for the process of democratisation and for the People’s Representative Assembly (PRA) given the challenge of enhancing stability in a volatile regional context while deepening democracy. They expressed support for a review of the needs of the PRA. The European Parliament’s services should enhance the capacity-building support activities provided to the PRA.

Welcoming an enhanced dialogue between the EU and Tunisia, Members called for measures on:

reforming public administration in the country; democratic transition and development in general; decentralisation and the empowerment of regions; monitoring respect for human rights, including the protection of women and children, gender equality and the protection of all victims of persecution and discrimination.

Members called for an EU and EP monitoring mission and election assistance for local elections (scheduled in October 2016). They called for support for gender-balanced policies and for the inclusion of young people in political life, especially regarding the promotion of youth participation in local elections.

As regards human rights, Members called for measures to prevent the use of torture and to abolish the death penalty.

The report called for a reform of the penal code which penalises homosexuality .

As regards civil liberties , Members called for a reform of the penal code to defend the freedom of expression and freedom of the press and media, freedom of expression online

II. Economic and social development : Members welcomed the Commission’s proposal for macro-financial assistance of EUR 500 million. They also noted the launch of negotiations on an ambitious free trade agreement (DCFTA) between the EU and Tunisia.

They encouraged partnerships with other interested global and regional donor countries and organisations and, in particular, measures reducing regional disparities and promoting training and investment in agriculture, taking into account the specificities of local agriculture, IT, the social economy, the manufacturing sector, tourism and SMEs which would boost employment.

In order to address unemployment, especially for young people, Members called for deep reforms with a view to promoting quality education. They called on all parties to maintain a spirit of good cooperation in order to focus on reforms with a view to inclusive economic development for all territories of the country, including the less advanced and impoverished inland regions. The EU is called upon to step up its efforts against desertification in Tunisia and water shortages.

Measures are necessary to combat corruption .

The report expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of the Tunisian debt. It called for the conversion of Tunisian debt into investment projects, especially for building strategic infrastructures and reducing regional disparities. It called for further assistance for SMEs, notably access to financial support.

They also encouraged more North African regional cooperation on specific issues such as afforestation and water management, as well as greater socioeconomic integration, within the context sustainable development.

III. Security and defence : Members are deeply concerned about the immediate security spillover in Tunisia originating, among other reasons, from instability in Libya. They expressed concerns at the high number of Tunisian foreign fighters joining Daesh and other terrorist groups . They are particularly concerned about the situation in Libya and called on all parties in Libya to engage constructively with the Government of National Accord (GNA).

Members called on the Tunisian Government to set up a strategy to deal with returning foreign fighters, for example by coupling punitive and precautionary measures with deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes. They recognise that terrorism is a shared challenge which requires a joint response and that cooperation between the EU and Tunisia in the field of security and the fight against terrorism has been stepped up recently.

They expressed its deepest concern about Law 22/2015 on counter-terrorism, adopted in July 2015 by Tunisia's Assembly of Representatives, which imposes the death penalty as a possible sentence for a range of ‘terror’ offences. The Tunisian authorities are called upon to continue to observe the moratorium on the death penalty and although Tunisia is one of the countries that are most vulnerable to the terrorism threat, states are obliged to fully respect human rights when fighting terrorism.

In parallel, Members welcomed the launch, in November 2015, of the EU programme of support for security sector reform in Tunisia. They called for the promotion of a logic of objectives, rather than mere support by policy instruments, within a clear strategic vision focusing on prevention .

IV. Mobility, research, education and culture : Members welcomed the EU and the Tunisia Mobility Partnership signed in March 2014.They recommended that Member States should show their solidarity with Tunisia by facilitating the issuing of visas for entrepreneurs, teachers, students, researchers, artists, etc.

They encouraged the EU to sign mobility partnerships with the partner countries in its southern neighbourhood in order to relax visa procedures in conjunction with readmission agreements. They called on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to develop possibilities for circular migration schemes which would open up safe and legal routes for migrants.

Members condemned trafficking in human beings, most of the victims of which are women, and called on the Tunisian authorities to cooperate closely with Member States in order to tackle organised forms of illegal immigration.

Members underlined that Tunisia should become a full participant in the Erasmus + programme in order to develop further the exchange of university students. Partnerships should be developed among schools, universities and research centres or in the area of culture and sports.

Lastly, Members stated that the use of Arabic is necessary to ensure the involvement of civil society in EU-Tunisia relations, in particular in the context of the free trade agreement negotiations.

Documents
2016/07/12
   EP - Vote in committee
2016/05/19
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2016/03/01
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2015/10/29
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2015/06/29
   EP - CASTALDO Fabio Massimo (EFDD) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0249/2016 - Fabio Massimo Castaldo - § 50/2 #

2016/09/14 Outcome: +: 521, -: 151, 0: 32
PL DE GB IT RO ES BG CZ BE HU PT SK SE LT FI HR DK FR EE AT SI MT LV LU NL IE CY EL
Total
49
88
68
70
31
51
17
21
20
16
21
13
19
10
12
10
11
68
6
15
8
6
7
6
25
10
5
20
icon: PPE PPE
202

Finland PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
178

Croatia S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Netherlands S&D

3

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ECR ECR
70

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1
2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Greece ECR

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
65

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Romania ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
13

Poland NI

Abstain (1)

1

Germany NI

2

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

1

Hungary NI

2

France NI

3
icon: EFDD EFDD
42

Poland EFDD

1

Germany EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2

France EFDD

1
icon: ENF ENF
36

Poland ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Romania ENF

Against (1)

1

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Austria ENF

3

Netherlands ENF

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
46

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

6

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Slovenia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
51

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Italy GUE/NGL

3

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3
4

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

A8-0249/2016 - Fabio Massimo Castaldo - § 61/2 #

2016/09/14 Outcome: +: 479, -: 152, 0: 70
IT DE PL RO ES NL BG CZ BE PT HU SK LT SE HR FI SI MT EE AT EL LV LU FR IE DK CY GB
Total
70
89
48
31
51
25
17
21
20
21
16
13
10
19
10
12
8
6
5
14
20
7
6
68
10
10
5
68
icon: PPE PPE
203

Finland PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
176

Netherlands S&D

3

Croatia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3
3

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Denmark S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
64

Romania ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom ALDE

1
icon: ECR ECR
69

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

3

Lithuania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Finland ECR

2

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
42

Germany EFDD

Against (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2

France EFDD

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
13

Germany NI

Against (1)

2

Poland NI

1

Hungary NI

2

France NI

Abstain (1)

3

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ENF ENF
36

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

1

Romania ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Austria ENF

3

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
51

Italy GUE/NGL

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

Against (1)

3

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
4

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
46

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

6

A8-0249/2016 - Fabio Massimo Castaldo - § 64 #

2016/09/14 Outcome: +: 527, -: 159, 0: 20
PL DE RO IT ES BG HU BE GB CZ PT SK NL SE AT LT HR DK FR FI SI MT LV EL LU EE IE CY
Total
49
89
31
70
51
17
16
21
68
21
21
13
25
19
15
10
10
11
68
12
8
6
7
20
6
6
10
5
icon: PPE PPE
204

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
178

Netherlands S&D

3

Croatia S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ECR ECR
70

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Italy ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1
2

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Greece ECR

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
65

Romania ALDE

3

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
13

Poland NI

Abstain (1)

1

Germany NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Hungary NI

2

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

1

France NI

3
icon: ENF ENF
36

Poland ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Romania ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3
3
icon: EFDD EFDD
42

Poland EFDD

1

Germany EFDD

Against (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2

France EFDD

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
51

Italy GUE/NGL

3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
4

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
46

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

6

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

A8-0249/2016 - Fabio Massimo Castaldo - Résolution #

2016/09/14 Outcome: +: 596, -: 59, 0: 49
DE IT PL ES GB RO FR CZ BE BG NL PT SE HU SK FI LT HR AT EL DK LV SI LU IE EE MT CY
Total
89
69
49
51
68
31
68
21
21
17
25
21
19
16
13
12
10
10
15
20
11
7
7
6
10
6
6
5
icon: PPE PPE
204

Finland PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
177

Netherlands S&D

3

Croatia S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Latvia S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ECR ECR
70

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Czechia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

2
2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
64

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Romania ALDE

3

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
46

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
51

Italy GUE/NGL

3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

4

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1
4

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: EFDD EFDD
42

Germany EFDD

Against (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1

France EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2
icon: NI NI
13

Germany NI

Against (1)

2

Poland NI

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

1

France NI

3

Hungary NI

2
icon: ENF ENF
36

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Romania ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Austria ENF

3
AmendmentsDossier
270 2015/2273(INI)
2016/05/19 AFET 270 amendments...