WRITTEN QUESTION P-3964/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Tunisia

Despite yet another announcement of reforms by President Ben Ali on 7 November 2000, there has been no improvement in the situation with regard to the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Tunisia. A number of prisoners who have been on hunger strike for several weeks are in a critical condition.

The Tunisian Human Rights League has been placed under judicial administration by a judge sitting in chambers to deal with urgent matters, after four disgruntled candidates brought an action against the League seeking annulment of the results of its last congress. The congress had agreed to a policy of autonomy from the Tunisian authorities. The summons was issued 24 hours after the statements by the new President of the Tunisian Human Rights League, the lawyer Mohktar Trifi, concerning the orchestration by the Tunisian authorities of the legal action, which is designed to bring about the dissolution of the association. The case is to be heard on 25 December 2000.

Does the lack of any response from the Council to these new assaults on fundamental freedoms in Tunisia mean that the Council regards Article 2 of the Association Agreement between the EU and Tunisia as an optional clause? Does not the Council consider that the lack of any response on its part, in conjunction with the EIB's granting of two loans to Tunisia, valued at 70 million, within just a few hours of the placing under judicial administration of the Tunisian Human Rights League, will be perceived by the citizens of Tunisia as demonstrating that the Union is not interested in their fundamental rights and as giving the Tunisian authorities carte blanche for their policy?

Reply

(12 March 2001)

The Council shares the concern of the European Parliament about the human rights situation in Tunisia in general and recent events in particular. The Presidency attended the trials of both the Tunisian League of Human Rights and M. Marzourki.

Respect for democratic principles and human rights are indeed under Article 2 an essential element of the Association Agreement with Tunisia, but in the Council's view measures under Article 90 of the Agreement in the event of violations should be taken only in extreme cases.

However, human rights issues, including freedom of expression, are an integral part of the EU's political dialogue with Tunisia at different levels, including at the Association Council which last took place in January 2000. The EU has always made it clear that it will raise human rights issues, including specific cases, whenever the need arises and at the appropriate level.

The political dialogue with Tunisia has contributed to several positive measures by the Tunisian authorities such as the release of political prisoners, the restitution of passports and moves to reform electoral and press legislation. The Council has welcomed the creation of a ministerial post with specific responsibility for human rights.

Human rights and democratic principles are also subjects of the Barcelona Process which includes Tunisia. The conclusions of the last Ministerial Conference in Marseilles in November 2000 provide for the extension of the political dialogue between the EU and its partners to these subjects.

The EU will continue to take every opportunity to express its concern over specific human rights violations and to impress on the Tunisian authorities the need for more rigorous and vigorous respect for human rights and democratic principles.