European Parliament resolution on Tunisia
Date: 2000-12-14
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Tunisia, association, democratisation, freedom of association, human rights

C 232/356

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

17.8.2001

Thursday 14 December 2000

20. Human rights: Tunisia

B5-0905, 0918, 0933, 0936 and 0937/2000

European Parliament resolution on Tunisia

The European Parliament,

(cid:1) having regard to its previous resolutions, and in particular that of 15 June 2000 (1), on the situation in

Tunisia,

A. whereas the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement lays down the promotion of human rights as a key
element and, in that spirit, introduces a political dialogue; regrets the fact that this frank and open
dialogue has not sufficed to encourage the Tunisian authorities to advance along the path of democ-
racy and human rights, to which they have formally committed themselves,

B. whereas the recent speech by President Ben Ali, which he gave in connection with the celebration of
the 13th anniversary of the change of 7 November 1987, took the line of outlining the path to be
followed and the steps to be taken to ensure the progress of the democratic and pluralist process in
Tunisia, which has not progressed at the same speed as economic reforms,

C. having regard to the recent measures resulting in restrictions on the operation of the Tunisian League
for Human Rights (LTDH), which has long been established in the country, the proceedings instigated
against Mr Moncef Marzouki, the restrictions placed on the activities of the National Council for Free-
doms in Tunisia (CNLT) and the very worrying situation of the prisoners of conscience who are on
hunger strike,

D.

E.

concerned about the human rights situation, in particular with regard to freedom of expression and
freedom of association for members of human rights organisations or of the democratic political
opposition,

drawing the attention of the Tunisian authorities to the harmful consequences of the continued exis-
tence of such situations, which restrict the freedom of action of organisations campaigning for respect
for human rights and for democratic progress in Tunisia,

1.
Calls on the Tunisian authorities immediately to cease all forms of harassment and repression of
associations campaigning for the rule of law in Tunisia, and in particular the LTDH, the CNLT and their
representatives;

Expresses its concern about the state of health of many prisoners in Tunisia who have embarked on

2.
a hunger strike;

3.
Calls on the Council and the Commission, who have frequently advocated constructive dialogue with
Tunisia, to use all the means provided for by the Association Agreement between the European Union and
Tunisia to secure respect for democratic freedoms and human rights;

4.
Calls for the next meeting of the EU-Tunisia Association Council, which is scheduled for February
2001, to examine, in particular, the human rights situation in Tunisia and the restrictions placed on the
activities of independent associations, in the context of the MEDA-Democracy programme;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Govern-

5.
ment and Parliament of Tunisia.

(1)

‘Texts Adopted’, Item 10.