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# 52014JC0036

**Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the Union position within the Association Council set up by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of a recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Tunisia Action Plan implementing the privileged partnership (2013-2017) /\* JOIN/2014/036 final - 2014/0316 (NLE) \*/**

  

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Tunisia and the
European Union are bound by a Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement that
came into force in March 1998. On the basis of that agreement, an EU‑Tunisia Action Plan
under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was approved by the two parties
in May 2005 for a period of five years. Within this framework EU‑Tunisia relations
have developed and matured substantially. The presentation in March 2010
of a Tunisian proposal to attain an advanced status[1] gave a further impetus
to these relations and marked a significant deepening of relations in the areas
of political relations, security, economics, trade and various sectors, and in
people-to-people contacts.

When the current ENP Action Plan expired in
2010, it was deemed appropriate to negotiate and conclude a new Action Plan
based on the objectives and ambitions of the joint document on privileged
partnership. However, pending the conclusion of the new Action Plan, both parties
agreed in September 2010 to continue to apply the 2005 Action Plan.

EU-Tunisia relations are conducted in the
broader context of a region where the overall political situation has been in a
state of flux since early 2011.

The Joint Communication ‘A new response to
a changing neighbourhood’[2]
outlined a new approach which aims at a higher level of differentiation,
allowing each partner to develop its links with the EU based on its own
aspirations, needs and capacities, but also on mutual accountability and the
degree of commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the
rule of law, and the capacity to implement jointly agreed priorities. This new
Action Plan clearly sets out the priority objectives of EU-Tunisia relations,
while taking full account of the privileged partnership and the comprehensive
scope of EU‑Tunisia relations.

The European External Action Service (EEAS), in close
cooperation with the European Commission and the EU Member States, has
held exploratory talks with Tunisia which have resulted in an agreement on a
draft Action Plan, including the list of priority measures to be carried out
under the Plan. At the last EU-Tunisia
Association Council meeting on 14 April 2014 both sides noted that they
had reached an agreement. The
finalisation of technical consultations on each side was notified through an
exchange of letters.

The new EU-Tunisia Action Plan sets out
specific measures for the fulfilment of the parties’ obligations under the
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement. It also provides a broader framework for further
strengthening EU-Tunisia relations to achieve a significant measure of economic
integration and a deepening of political cooperation, in accordance with the
overall objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement. Pursuant to the
European Neighbourhood Instrument Regulation[3],
the Action Plan is a key point of reference for setting the priorities of the Union under the ENP. The ENP, as a single policy framework, will continue to act as a
catalyst, based in particular on partnership and joint ownership, as well as
performance‑driven differentiation and tailor‑made assistance. The
European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy ('High Representative') annex hereto the text
of a joint proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken by the
European Union within the EU-Tunisia Association Council on the adoption of a
recommendation on the implementation of the Action Plan.

The European Commission and the High
Representative therefore request the Council to adopt the attached joint
proposal for a Council Decision.

2014/0316 (NLE)

Joint Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the Union position within the
Association Council set up by the Euro‑Mediterranean Agreement
establishing an association between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the
other part, with regard to the adoption of a recommendation on the
implementation of the EU-Tunisia Action Plan implementing the privileged partnership
(2013-2017)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217 in conjunction
with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the joint proposal from
the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
and the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)       The Euro-Mediterranean
Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and
their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other
part, was signed on 17 July 1995 and entered into force on
1 March 1998.

(2)       The Parties intend to
approve the new EU-Tunisia European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan
implementing the privileged partnership (2013-2017), which reflects the
EU-Tunisia special partnership and will contribute to the implementation of the
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement through the formulation and adoption of specific
measures with a view to achieving its objectives,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION

Article 1

The Union position within the Association
Council set up by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association
between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part,
and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, on the implementation of the
EU-Tunisia ENP Action Plan implementing the privileged partnership (2013-2017)
shall be based on the draft recommendation of the Association Council annexed
to this Decision.

Article 2

This
Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

                                                                       For
the Council

                                                                       The
President

[1]               Adopted by the EU-Tunisia Association Council on
11 May 2010.

[2]               COM(2011) 303 of 25.5.2011.

[3]               (EU) No 232/2014 of 11.3.2014.

ANNEXES

to the

Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL
DECISION

on the Union position within the
Association Council set up by the Euro‑Mediterranean Agreement
establishing an association between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the
other part, with regard to the adoption of a recommendation on the
implementation of the EU-Tunisia Action Plan implementing the privileged
partnership (2013-2017)

ANNEX 1

Draft

Recommendation

on
the implementation of the EU-Tunisia ENP Action Plan
implementing the privileged partnership (2013-2017)

The EU-Tunisia Association Council,

Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean
Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and
their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other
part, and in particular Article 80 thereof,

Whereas:

1.           Article 80 of the
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement authorised the Association Council to make
appropriate recommendations for the purposes of attaining the objectives of the
Agreement.

2.           Pursuant to Article 90 of the
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, the Parties shall take any general or specific
measures required to fulfil their obligations under the Agreement and shall see
to it that the objectives set out in the Agreement are attained.

3.           The Parties to the
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement have agreed on the text of the EU‑Tunisia
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan implementing the privileged
partnership (2013-2017).

4.           This EU-Tunisia ENP Action Plan
will support the implementation of the Agreement through the formulation and
adoption, by agreement between the Parties, of specific measures to provide
practical guidance for such implementation.

5.           The Action Plan serves the dual
purpose of setting out specific measures for the fulfilment of the Parties’
obligations set out in the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, and of providing a
broader framework for further strengthening EU-Tunisia relations to achieve a
significant measure of economic integration and a deepening of political cooperation,
in accordance with the overall objectives of the Euro‑Mediterranean Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION:

Sole Article

The Association Council recommends that the
Parties implement the EU-Tunisia ENP Action Plan implementing the privileged
partnership (2013-2017) annexed hereto, in so far as such implementation
is directed towards attaining the objectives of the Euro‑Mediterranean Agreement
establishing an association between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part.

Done at [...]

For the Association Council

The President

ANNEX 2

EU-Tunisia
Relations: a privileged partnership
2013-2017 Action Plan
Summary

I.            INTRODUCTION

Since 14 January 2011 Tunisia has
turned a new page in its modern history thanks to a peaceful revolution in
favour of human dignity and freedom, whose sole mover was the Tunisian people.
This revolution has laid the foundations for the development of true democracy
based on the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

These values, shared with the European
Union, have inspired the two parties to raise their relations to a higher, more
strategic level, namely a privileged partnership. Thanks to the revolution,
radically new vistas have opened up in relations between Tunisia and the EU.
The EU is determined to make a long-term commitment to support Tunisia's
democratic transition, aware that success will have beneficial repercussions on
both Tunisia's prosperity and that of the region as a whole. Support for the Tunisian transition is a historic
opportunity for the EU to respond practically, effectively and positively to
the challenges posed by both Tunisia and the ‘Arab Spring’, in accordance with
the revamped Neighbourhood Policy of 2011.

A new neighbourhood policy

In response to the historic challenges
facing its neighbourhood, the EU has formulated a new approach with the aim of
offering solutions better suited to the rapid development of its partner
countries and their need for reforms to establish and consolidate healthy
democracies, support sustainable and inclusive economic growth and manage
crossborder links and flows.

This new approach[1] is based on mutual
accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of human rights,
democracy and the rule of law. It offers greater differentiation in the
formulation of support, in line with the ambitions of the partner country for
closer ties with the EU, with its specific needs and capacity, and with
progress in implementing reforms, consolidating democracy and the rule of
law and upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms. It will also
translate this further deepening of relations into greater economic integration
and a deepening of political cooperation in the areas of governance, security,
conflict resolution and the adoption of joint initiatives in international
forums on issues of common interest.

The new Neighbourhood Policy approach is
designed: (a) to give greater support to partners committed to consolidating
democracy and upholding the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms and
gender equality; (b) to support the development of a sustainable and inclusive
economy that reduces social and regional inequalities, creates jobs and
improves living standards; (c) to establish a closer partnership with the
people and civil societies of partner countries.

New priorities for Tunisia

The Tunisian revolution brings with it the
hope of a better life for Tunisians, marking a break with an outdated
development model long marred by structural economic and social cleavages.

The new approach is thus based on the
building of a new society which aims to be inclusive and balanced, founded on
good governance and transparency and the equitable distribution of wealth.

Priority is given to employment and social
cohesion, regional development, security and stability, and transitional
justice with a view to anchoring the democratic transition in a long-term
process.

These priorities also underline the commitment
to step up the reforms necessary to establish democratic institutions that
respect human rights and fundamental rights and confirm Tunisia's desire to
build an open and modern society, a plural cultural space and dynamic social
fabric.

Economic and social reforms will also be
stepped up in order to revive the economy and promote job-creating sustainable
growth based on knowledge and innovation.

Efforts will focus on the development of a
just, solidarity-inspired social policy that is beneficial to all categories
and regions and on the modernisation of the fabric of the economy, with a
greater focus on more innovative, environmentally friendly activities with a
high technological content, and on improved competitiveness and a more
attractive business climate to foster private initiative and public-private
partnerships.

A
privileged partnership

The conditions are thus right for Tunisia
and the EU to raise their relations to a higher, more strategic level and step
up integration, in view of their shared greater ambitions. Rapprochement with
the European Union constitutes a permanent and fundamental foreign-policy
choice by Tunisia[2],
in parallel with the promotion of Maghreb integration and consolidation of
relations with the Arab, Mediterranean and African countries. Tunisia and the
European Union also share the view that greater economic liberalisation and
economic and social integration are a source of growth and employment and so
promote inclusive development and shared prosperity.

With the privileged partnership Tunisia
wishes to advance to a new level of integration with the EU which is as high as
possible.

This new status reflects the desire of both
parties to be part of a process of rapprochement that transcends the limits of
free trade and includes the mutually beneficial effective mobility of people
and increased knowledge-sharing.

It is essential to take account of the
human and scientific dimension to this partnership in order to bring civil
society, private operators, researchers and students, and local and regional
authorities closer together, something that will send a strong political signal
to both parties' citizens and business communities.

This jointly prepared evolving action plan
for 2013-2017 constitutes the reference framework for identifying the
priorities for strengthening relations between the two parties at all levels
(political, economic, scientific, social, cultural and human).

In this flexible framework, and on the
basis of the implementation of the privileged partnership in accordance with
Article 8 of the Treaty on European Union and of the aspirations of the EU and
Tunisia to deepen their relations, the parties agree to start canvassing the
possibility of reaching a new agreement governing their relations.

Key elements of the privileged
partnership between the European Union and Tunisia

Closer relations between the EU and Tunisia
in the framework of a privileged partnership will take the following forms:

(a) Deeper political cooperation. The parties hope to give a fresh impetus to political dialogue and
cooperation. In particular, it will involve greater high-level political
dialogue, parliamentary cooperation, cooperation on security issues,
cooperation on democracy and the rule of law, including gender equality, human
rights and fundamental freedoms, and greater cooperation with the Council of
Europe and other international organisations. It also includes enhanced
cooperation on security, justice, border management and the fight against
organised crime.

(b) Greater social and economic
integration with the European Union in order to build a Common Economic Area. The privileged partnership is also designed to achieve a deeper
economic, social and human integration of the partners. It reflects the
challenges faced by Tunisia in the transition to democracy, including economic
recovery and the imperatives of solidarity and sustainable development. With an
eye to the development of trade and economic links, it is planned to conclude a
deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) between Tunisia and the
European Union that will contribute to Tunisia's gradual integration into the
EU's internal market EU and the eventual establishment of a Common Economic
Area.

Tunisia wants to work towards greater
regulatory harmonisation through a gradual approximation of legislation. In
accordance with this Action Plan, Tunisia and the EU will jointly determine
which sectors will have priority for approximation. Having identified the
discrepancies between Tunisian legislation and the acquis communautaire,
Tunisia will set out the approximation objectives in relation to the acquis
communautaire in a national harmonisation programme, while the EU will
provide accompanying measures to support the achievement of these objectives.

This integration will be underpinned by an
enhanced dialogue on the socio-economic reforms that will embrace economic
performance, the promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the
development of an integrated employment strategy and social inclusion, together
with extensive sectoral cooperation covering key areas such as energy,
transport, industry, agriculture, the environment and climate change (see Annex
2).

(c) A closer partnership between
peoples. A privileged partnership is unimaginable
without the strengthening of ties between peoples through closer links and
direct cooperation between individuals and organisations. In this context
cooperation and exchanges in the areas of education, vocational training,
employment, research and innovation, health, culture and youth play a key
role. The dialogue will also cover migration, mobility and security with
the aim of concluding a mobility partnership establishing a framework
for balanced and responsible cooperation on the movement of people, management
of legal migration, the links between migration and development, protection of
migrants' rights and efforts to stop illegal migration, immigration-related
organised crime and readmission.

Similarly, the strengthening of relations
between the EU and Tunisia involves a broad mobilisation of all non-state
actors and members of civil society, who have an important role to play in
making democratisation a success. Consultation
mechanisms will be established in order to ensure that civil society fully
assumes its role as interlocutor in the dialogue with the authorities and the
European institutions, in particular in terms of finalising and implementing
this Action Plan.

A new method

The qualitative leap that the EU and
Tunisia propose to make in their relations will be based on a number of
principles and tools that will help ensure that the objectives are achieved

Specific, clear targeted commitments
over a period of 5 years. Deeper relations imply
that the partners enter into major commitments in a few priority sectors in
order to meet the challenges of the democratic transition: economic recovery,
promotion of SMEs and sustainable and inclusive development, employment,
improved living conditions and less inequality; the consolidation of the rule
of law, good governance and democratic pluralism, independence of the
judiciary, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, gender equality,
reform of the security sector, independence of the media and support for civil
society. The privileged partnership should also help bring our societies
together in the broadest sense, through an expanded intercultural dialogue.

Participation in EU agencies and
programmes. Another tool contributing to the goal
of greater integration between Tunisia and the EU is Tunisia's participation in
a number of EU agencies and programmes with a legal basis providing for
the participation of non-member countries. The Action Plan sets out the
practical steps to take here.

More ambitious technical and financial
support, tailored to Tunisia’s priorities and in
line with the new guidelines of the European Neighbourhood Policy, that will
support the implementation of the objectives of the Association Agreement in
the framework of the EU's post-2014 financial perspectives. The privileged
partnership raises the expectation that the EU will provide an appropriate
level of financial assistance to Tunisia matching the scale of the reforms, its
specific needs, its capacity and progress in implementing reforms.

The EU has already
confirmed its decision to increase significantly its support for Tunisia,
pledging at least €400 million for the period 2011-2013 (compared with the
€240 million which had been set aside before the revolution). The funds set aside will be used primarily to accompany the reforms
necessary to establish a democratic state (support for the organisation of
elections, reform of the security sector, the judiciary and the media, and
assistance with the process of transitional justice and the upholding of human
rights and fundamental freedoms) and to pursue economic recovery and strengthen
social cohesion (economic reforms, promotion of employment and regional
development, and efforts to reduce social exclusion, inequality and poverty,
institutional capacity-building, etc.).

In addition, some Member States, the
European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) will provide substantial support, in particular for
investment, infrastructure, private-sector support and employment, inter
alia via their G8 commitments (Deauville Partnership). The programming of
this support in line with the relevant procedures will take into account
commitments made under the Action Plan and any other relevant instrument,
including the findings of the EU‑Tunisia Task Force of 28 and
29 September 2011.

Flexibility and interim evaluation. The five-year Action Plan may be reviewed by the Association Council
in the light of progress in implementation or of any new requirements arising
from circumstances in Tunisia or the European Union. The bodies set up under
the Association Agreement will make appropriate proposals.

Monitoring implementation of the Action
Plan. The introduction of reforms in several key
sectors will require the setting of clear targets and the availability of
adequate resources. To ensure the best possible implementation and link the
objectives and progress made in achieving these objectives with the aid
provided, there will be regular monitoring by the Association Committee and the
subcommittees established under the Association Agreement and through each
party's progress reports.

The two parties will review the
subcommittees with a view to adjusting their membership and responsibilities to
the new ambitions of the privileged status.

II.          ACTION PLAN

Wishing to give this Action Plan a
character that is both strategic and operational, the parties agree to focus
their cooperation on a limited number of areas and objectives, as summarised in
the table in Annex 1.

In addition, the achievement of the Action
Plan's objectives will call for an enhanced dialogue on the socio-economic
reforms, including employment policy, social inclusion and strategies to revive
the economy with a view to sustainable, knowledge-based growth, and
wide-ranging sectoral cooperation covering key areas such as energy, transport,
industry, agriculture, tourism, skills development, the environment and climate
change

This is the reference document for
implementation of the Association Agreement (AA). It covers all the areas
covered by the AA and provides a framework for the overall cooperation between
Tunisia and the EU, including the work of the Association Committee and
subcommittees. The subcommittees have the task of formulating, on the basis of
the priorities identified in the Action Plan, the specific actions needed to
pursue these goals.

In the period ahead, the parties will focus
their priorities on the following areas:

Rule of law and democracy

1.           Establishing a democratic
electoral system, in particular by consolidating the independence and
functioning of the independent electoral commission responsible for the
management and organisation of elections.

2.           Ensuring the independence of the
judiciary, increasing its professionalism and efficiency (access to justice,
duration of trials), and upholding human rights, the presumption of innocence
and the right to a fair trial.

3.           Reforming the security sector as
part of a root-and-branch reform to ensure compliance with international
standards on the rule of law, human rights and international law.

4.           Strengthening the protection of
human rights, including the rights of women and children.

5.           Reforming the media and
professionalisation of the sector.

6.           Strengthening the role and
capacity of civil society.

Cooperation on migration, mobility and
security

7.           Dialogue on migration, mobility
and security and conclusion of a mobility partnership.

Greater social and economic integration

8.           Economic reform for inclusive
growth, competitiveness and a better business and investment climate.

9.           Deepening economic integration and
conclusion of a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement and approximation
with the EU acquis.

10.         Developing skills and access to
knowledge and innovation.

11.         Employment, social cohesion and
integration, and regional and local development.

12.         Agricultural and rural
development.

Sustainable development

13.         Developing and implementing
strategies and programmes for sustainable development, including improved
environmental protection pursuant to the intention set out in the Commission’s
Communication on the Multiannual Financial Framework of June 2011[3] to raise to at least 20 %
the share of the EU's budget allocated to the climate.

The table in Annex 1 provides a reference
framework for reviewing these priorities, and also contains indicators, a
timetable for implementation and the resources mobilised.

A.          Political cooperation

I.            Political and strategic dialogue and cooperation

1.           Enhanced political and strategic
dialogue

            Specific activities/objectives:

·
strengthen the political dialogue, in particular
through the organisation of EU‑Tunisia summits on an ad hoc basis
and regular meetings at ministerial and senior-official levels;

·
promote the ad hoc participation of
Tunisian representatives in informal meetings of the Council committees and
groups responsible for EU foreign policy and common security;

·
increase consultation in multilateral forums
(United Nations, etc.) in order to harmonise and coordinate policy positions on
issues of common interest;

·
cooperate in diplomatic matters, notably by
establishing cooperation relations and exchanges of experience between
Tunisia's Institut Diplomatique pour la Formation et les Études and the
academic institutions and diplomatic academies of the Member States.

2.           Parliamentary cooperation

            Specific activities/objectives:

·
develop parliamentary cooperation, in particular
through support to the Parliamentary Assembly, establish a joint parliamentary
committee of the European Parliament and the Tunisian Parliament, strengthen
cooperation and partnership between the Tunisian Parliament and the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean and exchanges between
political parties and parliamentary groups in Tunisia and the EU.

3.           Step up dialogue and cooperation
on conflict prevention and crisis management.

            Specific activities/objectives:

·
step up EU-Tunisia dialogue and cooperation in
the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the
Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP);

·
help develop the partnership for peace and
security in Africa with due consideration for the interests of both parties;

·
increase Tunisia's participation in the
Mediterranean Partnership of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) through the contact group and bilateral contributions on a
voluntary basis.

4.           Closer cooperation on the
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of
delivery, controls on transfers of conventional arms and prevention of the
dissemination of small arms and light weapons.

Specific
activities/objectives:

Weapons of
mass destruction and dual-use goods:

·
cooperate on and contribute to the full
implementation of existing international obligations to stop the proliferation
of WMDs and their delivery systems, and support the role of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);

·
in accordance with the parties' international
commitments, in particular the relevant international resolutions, including UN
Security Council Resolution 1540/2004, continue implementation of a system for
effective control of dual use goods at national level and criminalisation of
the proliferation of WMDs and their delivery systems;

·
take the necessary steps for the signing,
ratification or accession to other international treaties and other treaties
and instruments to prevent the proliferation of WMDs and their delivery
systems;

·
adopt national legislation to criminalise the
proliferation of WMDs and their delivery systems;

·
with the support of the EU, set up an effective
national system of controls on the export and transit of goods linked to WMDs,
including monitoring the end use of dual-use technologies;

Conventional
weapons:

·
develop the regular political dialogue on
transfers of conventional arms and strengthen cooperation aimed at preventing
illicit trafficking;

·
step up consultations on the adoption of a UN
treaty to establish common standards for the global trade in conventional arms;

·
with the support of the EU, set up an effective
national system of controls on the export of conventional arms and munitions,
including controls on end users.

5.           Cooperation on civil protection

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
pursue regional cooperation on disaster
prevention, preparedness, training, detection, early warning and response,
including man-made and natural disasters and technological risks;

·
establish operational arrangements between
Tunisian and European Commission bodies for cooperation with the
Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) when the EU civil protection mechanism
has been activated.

II.          Democracy, the rule of law and governance

6.           Alignment of Tunisia's
legislative framework on that of the EU/Council of Europe in these areas

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
strengthen cooperation between Tunisia and the
Council of Europe on the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and
democracy, particularly in view of Tunisia's possible accession to some Council
of Europe conventions.

7.           Strengthen institutions
guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
adopt constitutional, legislative and regulatory
provisions to strengthen the rule of law (covering the role of parliament, the
independence of political parties, etc.);

·
build the administrative capacity of democratic
institutions and actors (parliament, political parties, etc.);

·
adopt a democratic electoral framework,
establish an independent electoral commission and build the capacity of the organisations
of Tunisian civil society to carry out election monitoring, and adopt
regulations on election monitoring (including by international actors).

8.           Strengthen the independence and
efficiency of the judiciary and efforts to improve prison conditions

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
reform and modernise the justice sector to
ensure its independence, impartiality, professionalism, accountability and a
better functioning, drawing, when appropriate, on the standards developed by
the United Nations and the Council of Europe;

·
as part of the reform of the justice system,
provide technical support for Tunisia's efforts to modernise the sector,
including through computerisation of the administration, better access to
justice and capacity-building for stakeholders;

·
establish mechanisms/actions for transitional
justice;

·
reform the criminal code and code of criminal
procedures to bring them into line with international law in the field of human
rights;

·
step up efforts to improve conditions of
detention and imprisonment, especially for minors, and safeguard the rights of
detainees, including through training and capacity building for those
responsible for enforcing the law.

III.         Dialogue and cooperation on issues relating to human
rights and fundamental freedoms

9.           Dialogue and cooperation on
issues relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms

            Specific activities/objectives:

·
strengthen EU-Tunisia dialogue and cooperation
on the upholding and promotion of human rights and fundamental rights;

·
strengthen dialogue on cooperation within
international institutions, above all the UN.

10.         Implementation of international
conventions on human rights and cooperation with the special procedures and
mechanisms of the UN

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
uphold the principle of the primacy of ratified
international conventions over domestic law;

·
gradually complete the process of transposing
and implementing the international conventions ratified by Tunisia with the aim
of lifting any reservations[4];

·
cooperate with the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights and with the UN's special mechanisms on human
rights, in particular following the Tunisian authorities' standing invitation
made in February 2011;

·
support Tunisia's implementation of the recommendations
of the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council (May 2012)
that it has accepted.

11.         Ensure the freedoms of expression,
association, and assembly, in accordance with the UN International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
strengthen freedom of association and peaceful
assembly and freedom of expression and opinion on the basis of the relevant
recommendations of the UN Committee of the ICCPR and the UN Human Rights
Council's Universal Periodic Review, including those concerning NGOs and
non-state actors;

·
improve the new press code to bring it into line
with international standards; abolish in particular custodial sentences for press
offences and defamation, and guarantee the protection of sources;

·
ensure free and unrestricted access to new
technologies, including the internet, and guarantee freedom of expression and
dissemination of information on the internet, in accordance with international
law;

·
foster exchanges and cooperation initiatives
between the Tunisian and EU voluntary sectors.

12.         Promotion and protection of the
rights of women and children

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
implement the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the principle of equal
rights and civil, political, economic, social and cultural liberties;

·
consolidate the legislative framework with a
view to combating all forms of discrimination, promoting gender equality and
increasing the participation and integration of women in public, political,
cultural and economic life;

·
continue action on gender equality and combating
discrimination and violence against women in line with the relevant
international conventions; strengthen the legislative framework to provide
better protection for women against all forms of violence, including domestic
violence;

·
strengthen the role of civil society in
promoting and protecting the rights of women and children and encourage networking
in the field;

·
consolidate children's rights on the basis of the
recommendations of the United Nations Children's Rights Committee, in
particular the protection of children against all forms of violence and against
neglect and exploitation.

13.         Abolition of the death penalty and
combating torture and all forms of discrimination

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
maintain the de facto moratorium on
executions;

·
continue the dialogue on revision of the
Criminal Code with a view to abolition of the death penalty;

·
consider joining the cross-regional initiative
on the death penalty, supported by the EU within the framework of the United
Nations General Assembly;

·
following Tunisia's ratification of the Optional
Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, provide technical support for the
implementation of the Protocol and its instruments, including support for
setting up the national preventive mechanism provided for in the Protocol.

14.         Promotion of the role of civil
society and protection of human rights defenders

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
strengthen the participation of all components
of Tunisian society in public and political life, in particular by
consolidating the guarantees of fundamental freedoms and setting up mechanisms
for consultation and dialogue;

·
step up the involvement of civil society actors
and stakeholders in proposing, formulating and monitoring the implementation of
constitutional and legislative reforms.

15.         Cooperation on the universal
application of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
adopt national legislation implementing the Rome
Statute and exchanges of experiences about the legal adjustments required for
the implementation of the Rome Statute;

·
support the training of judges, lawyers and the
security forces in matters falling within the jurisdiction of the International
Criminal Court (ICC), in particular study of ICC and national case-law in the
areas covered by the ICC.

IV.         Regional and continent-wide cooperation and initiatives

16.         Support implementation of regional
integration initiatives and projects

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
promote intraregional, including intra-Maghreb,
integration, especially within the Arab Maghreb Union and the Agadir Process;

·
step up cooperation within Maghreb regional
institutions, the 5 + 5 Dialogue, the Mediterranean Forum, the Union for the
Mediterranean, the Africa‑EU Partnership and regional organisations
such as the Sahara and Sahel Observatory;

·
start a dialogue on the possibilities of
triangular cooperation involving Tunisian and European public and private
stakeholders to stimulate development in Africa.

V.          Justice
and security cooperation

17.         Development of legislation on legal and judicial
cooperation between states and provision of appropriate
accompanying measures

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
undertake as soon as possible analysis of the
main international conventions, particularly those drawn up in the framework of
the Hague Conference on private international law relating to family law;

·
continue to encourage practical solutions to
prevent, manage and settle parental responsibility disputes, including the
question of children of separated mixed couples;

·
pursue the dialogue on international child
protection and family-law issues in the context of Tunisia’s participation in the
Judicial Conference on Cross‑Frontier Family Issues (the Malta Process);

·
explore the possibility of signing, ratifying
and implementing the main international conventions, such as: the 1965 Hague
Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents
in Civil or Commercial Matters; the 1970 Hague Convention on Taking of Evidence
Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters; the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil
Aspects of International Child Abduction; the 1996 Convention on Parental
Responsibility and the Protection of Children.

18.         Consolidation of judicial
cooperation and approximation of the two parties' legal systems

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
take stock of EU-Tunisia judicial cooperation
and take measures to step it up;

·
continue implementation of measures provided for
in the UN Conventions against transnational organised crime (UNTOC) and against
Corruption (UNCAC);

·
set up a support programme for the modernisation
and independence of the judiciary in Tunisia.

19.         Strengthening cooperation between
the judicial and police authorities of Tunisia and the Member States

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
take stock of EU-Tunisia cooperation with a view
to deepening cooperation, especially through exchanges of experiences between
training centres in the EU Member States and their Tunisian counterparts on
legal and security matters;

·
ensure implementation of measures contained in
UN Conventions.

20.         Stepping up the fight against
corruption

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
exchanges of information on European and
Tunisian legislation and on the implementation of international instruments,
exchanges of best practices in the fight against corruption and the development
of cooperation in this area, also as part of the implementation of the 2003 UN
Convention on corruption;

·
support the efforts of the Tunisian authorities
to stamp out corruption, including the establishment of a specialist judicial
centre to handle corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance;

·
investigate the possibility of supporting the
implementation of Legislative Decree No 120 of 14 November 2011 on the
anti-corruption body;

·
continue to provide support, through mutual
assistance in criminal matters, for Tunisia's efforts to recover the assets
fraudulently acquired by the ousted president and his family, which are
currently frozen under the jurisdiction of EU Member States, pursuant to the
relevant international conventions, including the 2003 UN Convention against
corruption.

21.         Cooperation to combat terrorism
and organised crime

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
strengthen cooperation between judicial and
security agencies in the fight against terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime,
including on the basis of the ratification and implementation of relevant
international instruments, by encouraging the participation of Tunisian
officials in specific and specialised training courses in the prevention and fight
against terrorism in the EU Member States;

·
cooperate through the exchange of best practices
and technical exchanges and continue outreach efforts to make young people
aware of the dangers of violent radicalisation and extremism in all its forms
and instil in them a culture of openness, tolerance and solidarity, including
solidarity with the victims of terrorism, and protect them against involvement
in crime, including terrorist acts;

·
support Tunisia's efforts to ensure that human
rights are upheld in the fight against terrorism, also in the framework of the
security-sector reforms.

22.         International instruments to fight
organised crime

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
exchange information about, and experiences of,
implementation of the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organised
Crime (and its additional protocols);

·
formulate legislation that is compliant with the
relevant international standards and instruments in the fight against organised
crime.

23.         Development of methods and means
to combat trafficking in human beings and to protect its victims

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
adopt a legislative framework to combat
trafficking in human beings and to protect the victims of trafficking;

·
capacity-building of the various judicial and
security professions, including targeted specialist training activities to
fight against trafficking in human beings and protect victims of trafficking;

·
initiate a dialogue to agree a common approach
to tackling trafficking that targets recruiters, transporters, operators, other
intermediaries, clients and beneficiaries;

·
step up support to the most vulnerable groups
(women and children);

·
develop measures to prevent illegal immigration
aimed, in particular, at the most vulnerable groups, including the provision of
support, including European support, to promote co-development, the
creation of livelihoods and employment and improved living conditions and
environments in areas of high migration.

VI.         Cooperation on migration, mobility and security

24.         Protection of asylum seekers and
refugees

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
cooperation between Tunisia and the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) so that the
UNHCR can fulfil its role;

·
development and implementation by Tunisia of
legislation on asylum based on international principles and standards and of an
administration tasked with identifying, protecting, assisting and hosting
asylum seekers and refugees;

·
EU support to help Tunisia develop and implement
domestic legislation and build the capacity of an administration to deal with
asylum matters, including advice, training and technical support;

·
EU-Tunisia exchange of information on respective
asylum-related policies, laws and situations;

25.         Cooperation on migration, mobility
and security;

·
open a dialogue on migration, mobility and
security with a view to conclusion of a Mobility Partnership; implement the
measures provided for in the Mobility Partnership.

VII.        Drugs

26.         Step up action to combat
drug-trafficking and drug addiction

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
support implementation of the relevant
principles of the 1967, 1971 and 1988 UN Conventions and the principles
recorded in the UN General Assembly Special Session;

·
launch special training measures for drug
enforcement bodies;

·
development and implementation of prevention,
treatment and rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts.

VIII.      Money
laundering, economic and financial crimes

27.         Strengthening cooperation efforts
to combat money laundering

Specific
activities/objectives:

·
continue development of an effective legal
framework for preventing and combating money laundering and the financing of
terrorism in accordance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task
Force (FATF); identify requirements for administrative and technical assistance
and training;

·
step up cooperation between police forces and
with international organisations, such as the FATF and the Council of Europe,
and also with corresponding services of the EU Member States, particularly
exchanges of information between European and Tunisian financial intelligence
units (FIU).

B.           Social and economic integration: towards a common
economic area

Pillar 1 - Macroeconomic framework and public
finances

28.         Stabilising the macroeconomic
framework

·
revitalise and speed up economic growth;

·
make the economy more resilient by consolidating
macroeconomic fundamentals, particularly as regards foreign payments and the
national budget;

·
ensure the sustainability of the public debt and
external national debt;

·
continue implementation of the conclusions of
the study on improving the management of the public debt through supervision of
treasury issues and ensuring proper management of the state's liquid assets.

29.         Consolidating public-finance
management

·
start canvassing reform of the food and energy
subsidy system with the aim of targeting these transfers on disadvantaged
groups;

·
continue implementation of budget management by
objectives;

·
improve budgetary transparency by developing in
the medium term the publication of consolidated accounts of financial
transactions of the state, local authorities, social security funds and
government administrative enterprises.

30.         Continued public administration
reform

·
continue reform of the tax system to make it
fairer;

·
continue modernising the tax administration
(training, computerisation and use of new communication technologies, tax
administration governance and information systems);

·
continue and deepen the dialogue on the
principles of good tax governance, including the EU code of conduct on business
taxation, to ensure fair conditions as Tunisia gradually becomes integrated
into the internal market;

·
promote exchanges of experience and know-how on
EU Member States' tax systems.

31.         Consolidating the transparency and
effectiveness of procedures for the award of public contracts and concessions
(this action will be discussed by the Internal Market Subcommittee)

·
continue alignment of Tunisian legislation on
international and European standards to ensure a gradual opening-up,
efficiency, responsibility, transparency, equal access to information and
competition;

·
continue modernisation of the procedures for
administering, managing and monitoring the performance of public contracts, in
particular implementation of electronic procedures for public procurement;

·
continue effective training programmes for
buyers/authorising officers of national and local authorities, and of officials
responsible for reviewing contract award and performance;

·
strengthen cooperation and exchanges of
experiences concerning data monitoring and management between Tunisian and
European counterparts, including the National Observatory of Public Procurement
and the relevant departments of the European Commission dealing with
procurement;

·
promote cooperation and exchanges of experience
and information about dispute settlement for procurement procedures in
accordance with international and European standards with a view to adapting
them as necessary.

Pillar 2 - Governance,
competitiveness and the business environment

2.1 Governance and administrative reform

32.         Strengthening public governance

·
develop a governance communications strategy;

·
create participatory governance portal;

·
carry out perception surveys, improve the
evaluation of public policies and develop performance indicators for assessment
and decision making;

·
set up a national integrity system.

33.         Strengthening internal financial
control in the public sector

·
draft a policy and strategy document on internal
controls of public finances (financial management, financial control and
internal auditing) with reference to international best practice and standards,
including a comparative analysis of international frameworks and standards and
current internal-control practice in Tunisia;

·
taking into account the findings of the
comparative study and strategic document, strengthen the legislative and
regulatory framework and, if necessary, coordination of internal financial
control within the public sector, and promote the development of adequate
administrative and institutional capacity (training, guides, audit manuals,
audit software, certification, etc.);

·
pursue gradual harmonisation with
internationally recognised standards and methodologies and with the EU's best
practice concerning the control and verification of income, expenditure, assets
and liabilities.

34.         Strengthening verification and
external audits

·
gradually align the control methods of the Court
of Auditors and the national audit body on international standards and on EU
best practice for external audits;

·
build the administrative and procedural capacity
of the Court of Auditors as the State Audit Institution (SAI), targeting its
role solely on external audits, making it more independent and ensuring that
its budget is approved by parliament and its reports made public;

·
build the institutional capacity of the High
Committee for Administrative and Financial Control to coordinate control tasks
(programming, control methods, tools, and so on) and monitor the relevant
reports;

·
build administrative capacity and develop
exchanges of experience in the early detection of irregularities and fraud that
could affect the allocation and management of domestic and international funds,
including EU funds;

·
promote project-evaluation missions and public
actions and policies, and develop audit and evaluation tools;

·
build capacity to control the advisability of an
action, public management and 'value for money';

·
set up a system to certify public auditors;

·
ensure cooperation with the relevant EU
institutions and bodies in the event of on-the-spot inspections related to the
management and control of EU funds.

35.         Promoting the alignment of
statistical methods on European standards (Article 60 of the AA)

·
develop a strategy for harmonisation with
European concepts, classifications, standards and methods, notably in
connection with economic, social and environmental statistics;

·
improve the quality of statistics (also with a
view to the Millennium Development Goals, sustainable development and
developments in other areas) and their accessibility and clarity (dissemination
of statistics and awareness of them among users), and also ensure their
updating and punctuality (completeness of data transmission between Eurostat
and the Tunisian statistics service);

·
establish a medium-term action plan to upgrade
(institutionally and legally) the Tunisian statistics service and other
statistical structures, with a focus on human resources, statistical
programming and production, analysis, dissemination, etc.;

·
support the Tunisian statistics service in
implementing a ‘quality label’ for public statistics in line with best practice
at European level;

·
strengthen EU-Tunisia cooperation activities in
the field of statistics in order to develop the Tunisian national statistical
system and ensure that it is better integrated into the international
statistical system;

·
participate actively in the formulation and
implementation of a regional strategy (Maghreb and Mediterranean) for the
development of statistics;

·
promote regional and subregional cooperation and
the exchange of best practices to help improve the quality of statistical data
and ensure their international comparability.

36.         Ongoing public administration
reform

·
continue improvements to the quality of
administrative services and the process of reducing red tape and delays and
increase e-government;

·
improve relations with users and develop
communications, particularly through mechanisms for feedback, opinion polls and
the like;

·
establish a system of participatory assessment
of administrative services provided by various public bodies;

·
provide proximity services to users, inter
alia by extending local offices for public services, especially in regions
where administrative services are thin on the ground ;

·
establish the mechanisms and tools needed to
ensure implementation of the Decree-Law on Access to Administrative Documents;

·
help fight corruption through the implementation
of whistleblowing mechanisms to denounce instances of corruption;

·
promote the training of Tunisian officials in EU
policies and programmes.

2.2 A knowledge-based competitive economy

37.         Improving the performance and
competitiveness of the Tunisian economy

·
pursue structural reforms to make the economy
more competitive, promote economic dialogue between Tunisia and the EU, and
promote coordination of the recovery strategy in the spirit of the 2020 initiative
(for sustainable growth and jobs);

·
foster the structural transformation of the
economy into an economy driven by high value-added sectors and improve
productivity, increasing its contribution to economic growth;

·
continue the industrial upgrading programme,
follow up the Tunisian‑EU structuring programmes aimed at supporting
business competitiveness and innovation, such as the programme to support the
competitiveness of enterprises and facilitate market access (PCAM) and the
project to support the system of research and innovation (PASRI), and, with EU
support, speed up implementation of the agricultural upgrading programmes;

·
with EU support, speed up implementation of the
services upgrading programme, the setting-up of an information and monitoring system,
development of a better match between supply and demand in the labour market,
and closer cooperation on quality, certification, entrepreneurship,
associations and networking;

·
implement the government's strategy to increase
private investment, including privatisation;

·
develop the government's strategy to open up the
infrastructure sector to private-sector participation and draft a framework law
on public-private partnership.

2.3 A more attractive business environment

38.         Improving the business environment

·
review and strengthen the regulatory framework
for investment and doing business with a view to greater simplicity,
transparency and efficiency;

·
set up a national investment body to act as a
one-stop shop for local and foreign investors and also a sovereign investment
fund;

·
promote an environment conducive to business by
specifically focusing on the ongoing reform of the judicial system, including
court enforcement procedures, and on improving the specialist knowledge of
judges and reforming bankruptcy legislation;

·
establish mechanisms for observing and
monitoring the administrative business environment in Tunisia and international
practices;

·
enhance Tunisia's attractiveness as a location
for high value-added and innovative activities and support the promotion of
investment in the region, including identification and development of regional
potential and specific features.

39.         Promoting investment and
partnership and improving the anchoring of local investment

·
encourage the development of partnerships between
Tunisian and EU enterprises and clusters and foster technology transfers;

·
mobilise local businesses around foreign
investment to stimulate innovation and domestic economic development;

·
promote and institutionalise cooperation between
Tunisian and European business associations and support the organisation
of an EU‑Tunisia economic forum.

40.         Harmonisation of company law to
protect all parties and facilitate business activity

·
encourage alignment on European and
international company law standards;

·
protect shareholders in accordance with European
standards and practices in this area;

·
in line with European and international
standards: (i) support the private sector in finalising good governance guides
for different types of company and (ii) draft good governance guidelines
for public entities;

·
modernise the operational management of the
business register and the system of publication in the official bulletin to
inform third parties.

41.         Adoption of international and
European financial audit standards and reform of the Tunisian corporate
accounting system to bring it into line with European and international
accounting standards

·
continue efforts to promote the quality of
statutory audits;

·
continue efforts to steer the development of the
corporate accounting system towards the adoption of European and international
accounting standards;

·
ensure cooperation with the EU institutions and
bodies responsible for accounting standards and the oversight of statutory
audits.

42.         Strengthening cooperation on
business policy

·
strengthen cooperation with the EU on policy to
promote SMEs through the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for
Enterprise, drawing inspiration from the Small Business Act in particular, and
filling the gaps in SME support services;

·
promote greater integration of Tunisian SMEs
into the Enterprise Europe Network through the conclusion of a
memorandum of understanding;

·
encourage Tunisia's participation in the
programme to support the competitiveness of companies and SMEs;

·
support improved mechanisms for setting up
businesses and promote SMEs' access to finance through the strengthening
of equity financing instruments and pre-seed mechanisms for young promoters and
innovative activities;

·
support institutional capacity-building for
structures to aid SMEs, particularly guidance for investors, marketing and
drawing up business plans, and the like;

·
step up the activity of investment funds and
their intervention in the regions.

Pillar 3: Deepening integration and
conclusion of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement

The two parties underline their desire to
continue the work of gradually integrating their economies with the objective
of ultimately creating a Common Economic Area through increased trade
facilitation and a start as soon as possible to negotiations on a Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) as part of Tunisia's engagement in a
process of democratic and economic reforms.

The DCFTA provides for better market access
opportunities, an improved investment climate and greater support for economic
reforms undertaken to this end. The DCFTA, which will be an integral part of
the AA, will thus cover a large number of areas of common interest (non
exhaustive list: the focus will be on priority sectors chosen by the two parties
in the framework of legislative approximation):

·
further liberalisation to improve market access
for agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fishery products
and industrial products, taking into account the circumstances of both parties;

·
technical regulations for industrial products,
standards, conformity assessment and market surveillance;

·
sanitary and phytosanitary measures;

·
liberalisation of trade in services and
investment protection;

·
public procurement;

·
competition policy;

·
capital movements and payments;

·
protection of intellectual property rights,
including the protection of Tunisian and European geographical indications;

·
customs;

·
trade facilitation;

·
dialogue on trade defence instruments;

·
trade and sustainable development.

In negotiating the DCFTA the parties will
take into account the sensitivity of certain sectors and provision will be made
for asymmetrical commitments appropriate to the development differential
between the two parties. The DCFTA should also
identify the priorities for regulatory approximation with the acquis
communautaire on the basis of mutual interests; a dynamic approach should
be adopted to allow for additional regulatory approximation at a later date and
gradual implementation.

Under the DCFTA the two parties will thus
aim to achieve the following.

3.1 Better access to markets for goods through the removal of tariff
and non tariff barriers

43.         Agricultural products and sanitary
and phytosanitary issues

·
resume/finalise the negotiations to liberalise
trade in agricultural products, processed agricultural products and fishery
products;

·
strengthen cooperation to improve animal and
plant health and food safety, taking into account animal welfare, also with the
aim of facilitating trade in agricultural products between Tunisia and the EU;

·
continue implementation of the WTO Agreement on
the application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and the
international standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health
(OIE), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the
Codex Alimentarius;

·
on the basis of the standards of the relevant
organisations, gradually align Tunisian sanitary, phytosanitary and
animal-welfare laws and regulations with those of the EU in order to achieve
equivalent protection, including hygiene, identification and traceability of
live animals, animal feed and food;

·
adopt and start implementing the draft framework
law on food safety;

·
strengthen and upgrade institutions and
laboratories, including those for the certification of agricultural products;

·
cooperate in order to improve measures for the
prevention and eradication of animal diseases and plant pests, including the
setting–up of relevant professional bodies;

·
exchanges of technical expertise and experience,
including participation in the training workshops of the European Commission's
'Better Training for Safer Food' (BTSF) programme;

·
continue cooperation on health alerts, especially
within the EU's Rapid Alert System (RASFF);

·
upgrade and strengthen sanitary and
phytosanitary border controls, including the infrastructure of border
inspection posts (BIPs).

44.         Industrial products

·
complete alignment of horizontal legislation on
accreditation, conformity assessment and market surveillance with a view to
harmonising it with the EU New Legislative Framework (NLF) of 2008;

·
for selected priority sectors, finalise
alignment of sectoral legislation and the adoption of European standards,
together with the elimination of conflicting standards, and identify other
potential sectors;

·
continue and finalise the upgrading of
institutions responsible for accreditation, standardisation, conformity
assessment, metrology and market surveillance, especially by implementing the
recommendations emerging from twinning projects and technical assistance and through
exchanges of information and expertise and their integration into European and
international structures;

·
finalise preparations for the construction
materials and electrical products sectors, and negotiate and conclude an
agreement on conformity assessment and acceptance of industrial products (ACAA)
for these two priority sectors; other priority sectors, in particular
machinery, pressure equipment and measuring instruments, may be added to the
agreement as legislative alignment proceeds;

·
continue efforts to raise awareness among economic
actors, including Tunisian SMEs, and provide them with the necessary
support for implementation of European directives and standards adopted by
Tunisia;

·
implement the ACAA, extend its application and
ensure its sustainability with appropriate EU support.

45.         Trade facilitation and development

·
overhaul the foreign trade regime to reduce
non-tariff barriers and strengthen instruments and bodies in the fields of
trade facilitation, awareness-raising, controls, and implementation of
legislation;

·
strengthen cooperation as much as possible,
including through the exchange of information on trade defence;

·
develop the capacity of TBT (technical barriers
to trade) inquiry points to improve information flows and cooperation between the
EU and Tunisia and to relay information to operators.

46.         Revision of rules of origin

·
conclude the Regional Convention on
pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin;

·
continue negotiations on the revision of these
rules in order to simplify them and take account of new technical and
technological developments in industry and of development priorities in
strategic sectors for Tunisia, such as textiles and agri-food products, so as
to mitigate the impact of tariff erosion in the region.

47.         Customs cooperation

·
continue implementation of customs measures
facilitating trade, while also ensuring the security of the international
supply chain (greater use of risk analysis, ex-post controls, simplified
customs clearance procedures for known and certified operators, transparent
legislation, extending the one-stop shop pilot project, etc.);

·
continue work on integrated management with
other border stakeholders;

·
strengthen dialogue on the Authorised Economic
Operator (AEO) system in order to bring Tunisian rules into line with those of
the EU, with the ultimate aim, once the conditions are met, of an agreement
between the Tunisian and EU customs administrations on mutual recognition of
AEO status;

·
continue the capacity-building of Tunisian
customs institutions;

·
take part in the Customs 2020 programme.

48.         Intellectual property rights:
gradually bringing Tunisian legislation into line with that of the EU and
enforcing effective implementation of these provisions, also by the courts

·
further align Tunisian legislation on that of the
EU in the areas of industrial‑property, copyright and related rights, and
finalise preparations to join the international conventions provided for in the
Association Agreement (analysis of gap between Tunisian and EU legislation,
adopting approximated legislation, etc.);

·
align Tunisian legislation on EU legislation on
the protection of geographical indications (PGI) and designations of origin
(PDO) (analysis of gap between Tunisian and EU legislation, adopting
approximated legislation, etc.);

·
build administrative and judicial capacity, in
particular to combat counterfeiting and piracy, in coordination with EU
institutions, bodies and the private sector (regular activities, action plan,
dialogue, etc.);

·
increase means to ensure an effective and
dissuasive protection of intellectual property rights (step up powers and
capacity of customs, criminal and judicial follow-up, economic assessment of
the impact of counterfeiting and piracy on domestic creativity and innovation);

·
continue efforts to raise awareness about
intellectual property and provide training.

3.2 Improving
market access and freedom of establishment for services and service providers

49.         Liberalising trade in services and
the right of establishment

·
continue and finalise the negotiations on the
liberalisation of trade in services and the right of establishment;

·
ensure that the conditions for establishment of
companies do not become more restrictive than when the Association Agreement
was concluded;

·
agree a framework to facilitate talks on (i) the
mutual recognition of professional qualifications in order to ease the
implementation of concessions by the two parties and the mobility of service
providers; (ii) implement the pertinent measures referred to in point 25.

50.         Development of Tunisia's services
sector

·
simplify administrative procedures by ensuring
that the procedures governing access to and exercise of service activities are
transparent, proportionate and based on objective criteria in order to provide
predictability and legal certainty to service providers);

·
reform financial services (alignment on European
and international rules and surveillance):

·
further strengthen the regulatory and
supervisory framework for financial markets and actors by aligning it on that
of the EU with a view to gradual liberalisation;

·
strengthen the powers, effectiveness and
independence of the authorities supervising financial markets in accordance
with international standards;

·
consolidate the financial strength of credit
institutions and strengthen prudential provisions in order to achieve
convergence on international standards; develop a system of bank deposit
protection;

·
develop the microfinance sector, particularly in
rural areas, and develop financial services tailored to the needs of farmers
with small and medium-sized holdings;

·
develop the activity of rating agencies and
implement their legal framework based on the principles of the International
Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the relevant European
legislation;

·
continue development of the postal sector in
Tunisia and facilitate the creation of an appropriate regulatory framework for
the sector;

·
exchange experiences and expertise on postal
regulation, also with a view to convergence with the EU's regulatory framework;

·
with EU support, plan the setting-up of a
regulatory authority for the postal services market.

51.         Promotion and development of
e-commerce

·
develop cooperation to promote the network
marketing business (sales networks);

·
adopt best European and international practices;

·
establish appropriate regulation, help graduates
to join the virtual economy and create added value and job opportunities.

52.         Capital movements and current
payments: complete liberalisation of current payments and continue
liberalisation of equity transactions

·
gradually complete the liberalisation of current
payments and pursue liberalisation of capital movements in accordance with
Article 34 of the Association Agreement;

·
exchange information on best practices for the
elimination of barriers to the free movement of capital.

3.3 A fair competitive environment

53.         Competition policy: implement and
consolidate undertakings made concerning legislation and implementation of an
effective competition policy (Articles 36 and 37 of the Association Agreement)

·
evaluate the current system (framework
legislation in force and implementation) and adopt appropriate measures, in
particular antitrust measures, to facilitate the alignment of Tunisian
legislation with that of the EU, while upholding the principles of non-discrimination,
transparency and procedural fairness;

·
continue enhancing the role of the Competition
Council.

54.         State monopolies: implement
commitments made under Articles 37 and 38 of the Association Agreement

·
exchange information on state monopolies, public
enterprises and enterprises with special or exclusive rights in order to help
Tunisia implement Article 37 of the Association Agreement.

55.         State aid: implement the
commitments on state aid made under Article 36 of the Association Agreement

·
ensure that the conditions exist to make state
aid transparent.

3.4 Deeper South-South integration

56.         Help ensure completion of a free
trade area between the EU and all its Mediterranean partners

·
continue implementation of Free Trade Agreements
with the Mediterranean partners at regional, intra-regional or bilateral
levels;

·
support implementation of the Arab-Mediterranean
Free Trade Agreement (Agadir Agreement) and its extension to other
Mediterranean partners;

·
agree and implement mechanisms to facilitate
trade and investment and promote deeper South-South integration.

3.5 Moving closer to the EU acquis

·
continue, gradually and step by step, to bring
Tunisia's legal and regulatory framework closer to the EU acquis, relying in
particular on EU instruments of institutional support, particularly in the
relevant areas of the internal market;

·
to do this a joint mechanism will be set up to
identify the priority areas for approximation, the phases and the resources
needed; Tunisia will set up, with EU support, a national convergence programme
to implement the action plan.

Pillar 4 - Cooperation on employment, social
policy and social security

57.         Implementation of reforms in
employment policy, including enhancing employability and decent work

·
develop and implement a comprehensive national
employment strategy, taking into account the post-Constituent Assembly economic
and social programme, plus the guidelines of the European Employment Strategy
and the nine priorities of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation on employment
and labour;

·
adapt qualifications to match labour market
needs and support the setting-up of a vocational information and guidance
service;

·
support the creation of a certification system
to facilitate recognition of qualifications and promote mobility, career development
and employability;

·
continue consultations and dialogue on
employment, employability and decent work, particularly within the Euro-Med
Ministerial Conference on Employment and Labour, in agreement with the
principles of flexicurity, justice and social equity;

·
increase participation in the formal, productive
labour market, in particular that of young people and women, and ensure that
active labour-market policies are fair, above all by integrating women and the
long-term unemployed among young graduates;

·
improve the system for regularly evaluating
active labour-market policies in order make them more effective and tailor them
to labour market requirements;

·
build the capacity and modernise the delivery of
public services in charge of employment and labour-market monitoring,
particularly in terms of information on employment and the networking of
public, private and civil‑society operators.

58.         Full implementation of fundamental
social rights and labour standards and improved social-dialogue structures

·
continue dialogue and cooperation on
implementation of fundamental principles and rights at work and core labour
standards and conventions pursuant to the 1998 International Labour
Organisation (ILO) Declaration;

·
develop labour legislation designed to make the
labour market more flexible while protecting the rights of workers;

·
energise social and economic transformation in
Tunisia through the conclusion of a new social contract and an effective social
dialogue between the social partners; develop tripartite structures and
independent bipartite social dialogues, including capacity-building for the
social partners;

·
implement Tunisia's decent work programme after
its adoption by Tunisia and the ILO, and monitor its objectives and indicators;

·
strengthen social dialogue within companies and,
through the continuing training of members of the Commissions Consultatives
des Entreprises (works advisory committees) to help prevent labour disputes
and improve productivity and employability in the company;

·
strengthen the system for promoting and
monitoring health and safety in the workplace, including relevant training
measures, enshrinement of the precautionary principle, the prevention of
occupational risks relating to the handling of dangerous or toxic substances,
and the exchange of best practices and reports in this area;

·
formulate legislation on health and safety at
work, develop a strategy for preventing and reducing fatal and serious
accidents at work, draft standards and certification guides, and map
occupational risks;

·
strengthen and restructure the Occupational
Health and Safety Institute to enable it to adapt to new national and
international requirements for workplace health promotion, prevention of
occupational risks and ownership of new planning and programming approaches to
the well-being of workers;

·
implement the national occupational risks
management programme (PNGRP), including specific prevention of exposure to
occupational risks in agriculture and fisheries;

·
promote corporate social responsibility and
support the development of business practices complying with the United Nations
Global Compact, the ILO Tripartite Declaration on Multinational Enterprises and
Social Policy and the relevant Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) practices;

59.         Promoting the social inclusion
policy and continuing social protection reforms

·
continue cooperation to strengthen and
consolidate an integrated and effective social inclusion policy that involves
civil society;

·
reduce the proportion of the population living
in absolute or relative poverty or in a position of great vulnerability, as
recognised by international standards, reduce social inequalities and implement
an information system on the categories of the poor;

·
guarantee the active social inclusion of all by
encouraging participation in the labour market, in particular by the most
vulnerable groups;

·
promote the role of social structures and civil
society organisations in the provision of support and assistance for the
integration of categories at risk of exclusion and continue the
socio-occupational integration of people with a disability;

·
reform the pension system and ensure the
financial sustainability of pension systems; build the institutional capacity
of government agencies responsible for managing pensions and health care;

·
work towards extending social security coverage
and continue the dialogue on improving the system of social protection for
workers who lose their jobs for economic or technological reasons, especially
in the context of Tunisia's introduction of a national social protection floor;

60.         Ensuring the application of the
principles of equal treatment in social legislation and enshrining the
principles of social security coordination between Tunisia and the EU

·
ensure that provisions on equal treatment at
work, remuneration and dismissal are fully implemented, both for Tunisian workers
and legally employed EU nationals;

·
fully implement the undertakings given under the
Association Agreement concerning the coordination of social security for
workers and their members of their families;

·
ensure full application of the clause on
non-discrimination in social security for Tunisian and EU nationals and members
of their families;

Pillar 5 - Balanced and inclusive regional and
local development

61.         Support for regional development
efforts to reduce regional imbalances and promote local development capacity

·
support the implementation of policies and
programmes to reduce regional disparities (including the rehabilitation and
development of social and community infrastructure), reduce unemployment,
poverty and insecurity, and increase investment, particularly in disadvantaged
inland areas;

·
support the implementation of integrated
development programmes (rural/urban) and carry out targeted measures in regions
with specific problems ((high migration potential, high unemployment, border
areas);

·
improve regions' local self-development
capacity, promote rural development and improve living conditions in rural
areas, always involving civil society;

62.         Strengthening decentralised and
crossborder cooperation

·
strengthen territorial cooperation with the EU,
particularly for diagnosis and the formulation of regional economic development
strategies, territorial marketing and economic promotion;

·
build the institutional capacity of regional
development bodies, strengthen regional economic governance and foster
modernisation and local government capacity-building programmes in order to
make local authorities the engine of development at local level;

·
enrich, disseminate and exploit multisectoral
regional information for the purposes of local expertise and regional
programming and planning (pooling the use of a regional economic information
system, developing regional economic intelligence and monitoring units, and
creating a national observatory on regional development and strengthening
decentralised cooperation);

·
foster alignment on the European model of
regional development and cohesion, develop decentralised cooperation between
regional and local development institutions, and promote the exchange of
knowledge and skills and cooperative relations in the framework of projects
mounted and conducted in partnership with European organisations.

63.         Support for the process of
decentralisation and local governance

·
institutional support for the introduction of a
decentralisation policy and support for the overhaul of the role of government
at central and regional levels in the course of decentralisation;

·
support for reform of local government systems,
whether legal and regulatory (laws and regulations), institutional and
organisational (competences and responsibilities) or financial (local taxes);

·
support for the formulation of a human-resources
management strategy and programmes of capacity building and human development
at local level in the form of targeted training, retraining and advanced
training, and the establishment of structures to train and support elected
officials;

·
support for the establishment of a system of
governance based on participatory democracy and promotion of projects through
local authorities capable of generating the support of local people;

64.         Urban development and land–use
planning

·
support governance in the sphere of land–use and
urban planning and management and improve coordination between the central and
local levels;

·
build the capacity of municipalities in urban
planning and land use;

·
improve monitoring of planning matters,
including the creation of dedicated observatories.

Pillar 6 - Modern infrastructure to serve a
competitive economy

6.1 Transport
and logistical services

65.         Implementation of national policy
on transport and the development of sustainable transport

·
implement a sustainable national transport
policy for the improvement of all modes of transport, particularly with a view
to safe and efficient systems with lesser impact on the environment and climate
change, and support the development of research;

·
in particular, continue MedaMos and Safemed
programmes as part of the Euro‑Mediterranean (Euromed) transport
dialogue;

·
continue the formulation of an infrastructure
policy by identifying and evaluating infrastructure projects for various
transport modes, taking particular account of international targets for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions;

·
expand and modernise port and airport
infrastructure and upgrade commercial seaports;

·
for ports identified as ports of the motorways
of the sea, ensure certain standards (of port infrastructure, port services,
administrative procedures and coordination of inspections, and maritime and
intermodal services);

·
develop sector strategies to meet objectives
arising from the development of trade with the EU and from implementation of
the Union for the Mediterranean;

·
promote the use of EU technical interoperability
specifications by Tunisian railways;

·
continue participation in the planning exercise
for transport infrastructure in the Mediterranean, in particular the future
Trans-Mediterranean Transport Network and improving links with the
Trans-European Transport Network.

66.         Regulatory approximation and
institutional capacity-building

·
initiate negotiations on the Euro–Mediterranean
open sky agreement;

·
continue the approximation of legislative and
regulatory frameworks with European and international standards for all modes
of transport and the institutional capacity-building of Tunisian structures
responsible for transport;

·
strengthen the structures of the maritime
authority and support the harmonisation of its relationship with the port
authority;

·
 promote exchanges of experiences and good
practices concerning sustainable transport for all transport modes.

67.         Developing logistics and promoting
intermodality

·
continue to modernise logistics services and
activities, including support for the setting–up of the logistics observatory,
and to implement the logistics development strategy and set up networks of
logistics platforms in order to ensure smoother EU–Tunisia trade flows;

·
develop cooperation to improve the provision of
training in logistics and the use of new communication technologies
(e-logistics);

·
step up dialogue with the EU with the aim of involving
Tunisia in EU actions to improve the supply chain and its security.

6.2 Energy

68.         Gradual convergence on the goals
of EU energy policy

·
draft an energy policy document on the gradual
convergence on EU energy goals;

·
promote cooperation on scientific research and
technology transfers.

69.         Reinforce, develop and optimise
energy networks and infrastructure

·
develop and strengthen networks, infrastructure and interconnections
(gas, electricity, oil) in Tunisia (especially in inland regions), the Maghreb
countries and the Euro-Mediterranean region (including pipeline and electricity
interconnections with Italy).

70.         Promote the use of renewable
energy and energy efficiency

·
work to achieve the goal of getting 20 % of
energy from renewable sources by 2020;

·
cooperate within the framework of the Tunisian
Solar Plan and other Tunisian energy management measures consistent with the
Mediterranean Solar Plan;

·
strengthen institutions and gradually align
Tunisian legislation on EU legislation and practice;

·
prepare for participation in the EU's
Intelligent Energy Programme.

71.         Gradual integration of Tunisia's
electricity and gas markets into the European energy market

·
continue reforms of the gas and electricity
sectors by convergence on the EU acquis, including the adoption of
electricity and gas codes; set up a regulator and phase out price distortions;

·
gradually integrate the electricity markets of
Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.

72.         Strengthening regional cooperation

·
continue energy cooperation within the Union for the Mediterranean,
also with a view to implementation of the Mediterranean Solar Plan; continue
cooperation within the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency in Cairo.

6.3
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

73.         Strengthening sectoral cooperation

·
continue ICT cooperation in order to create a
universal and inclusive information society, including exchanges of experiences
and expertise related to sector regulation with a view to approximating the regulatory
framework with that of the EU (e.g. the Euro-Mediterranean Network of
Regulators - EMERG);

·
promote institutional cooperation between
European and Tunisian regulators/agencies (the National Electronic
Certification Agency (ANCE), the National Frequencies Agency, the National
Telecommunications Authority, etc.), for example, by integrating ANCE in
e-signature projects;

·
develop cooperation on electronic certification,
starting with e-signatures, and assess the possibilities for exchanging
technical and/or legal expertise;

·
exchange experiences in the field of security
and digital trust (cybersecurity);

·
exchange experiences and expertise to enhance
the capacity to evaluate telecommunications markets and growth opportunities
offered by e-commerce;

·
develop more advanced cooperation on the
information society and the digital economy on the basis of common themes,
taking the action plan as a reference;

·
promote the free use of the internet, including
exchanges of expertise and experience on European , international and Tunisian
developments concerning the principles that govern the internet;

·
continue to boost the competitiveness and
capacity of Tunisia's ICT sector;

·
continue and maintain cooperation on research
and education networks, particularly in the Mediterranean regional network
(Euromedconnect), which offers access to specific electronic resources for
research.

74.         Development of technology
infrastructure

·
develop an inclusive information society and
promote cooperation, development of skills and exchanges of experiences in
areas related to information technology developments in the public sector,
especially the restructuring of major government applications in the context of
a new economic model, based, for example, on the technology of Cloud Computing,
Open Gov, Open Data and SaaS 'Software as a Service';

·
facilitate the exchange of experiences and
expertise in the formulation and implementation of laws and standards on the
development and use of information technologies;

·
present and debate Tunisia's goal to establish
itself as a regional telecommunications and internet hub ;

·
promote the expansion of the DTT network
(Digital Terrestrial Television) in the short term and evaluate the long-term
prospects of terrestrial television.

Pillar 7 - Enhanced sectoral cooperation

7.1
Agriculture and fisheries

75.         Support for the modernisation of
agriculture

·
support the establishment of a multiannual
agricultural and rural development programme (ENPARD);

·
support implementation of the national
agricultural development strategy in accordance with the main policy guidelines
on increasing food security, sustainably managing natural resources, adding
value to exports and adapting to climate change;

·
continue and strengthen cooperation and the
exchange of information and expertise on agricultural policy;

·
support the agricultural upgrading programme
concerning both agricultural holdings and agricultural institutions and support
structures;

·
develop and consolidate Tunisian professional
agricultural organisations by making them more representative and effective in
promoting and organising the agricultural and agri-industrial sectors;

·
promote partnerships between Tunisian
professional organisations and their European counterparts so as to enhance
their leadership role in training, extension services, consultancy and
marketing;

·
implement the national organic farming strategy
and support convergence with EU legislation and policies;

·
implement the national fisheries strategy aiming
at a sustainable use of fishery resources, the consolidation of port
infrastructure, adding value to fishery products and improving their
competitiveness, and promotion of marine and freshwater fish farming;

·
develop cooperation with the EU within
Mediterranean Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs)
(International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, ICCAT and the
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, GFCM) concerning the
sustainable use of resources.

7.2
Industry

76.         Support for a more competitive
industry, creating value and generating growth

·
support the formulation and implementation of
industrial strategies aimed at climbing the value chain and promoting the
emergence of sectors with high-growth potential, setting-up thematic
technological and industrial networks and developing innovation clusters;

·
develop and improve industrial and technological
infrastructure (industrial zones, technology parks, industry and technology
clusters) and promote its attractiveness, especially abroad;

·
step up the upgrading of business support
structures and improve their regional scope;

·
maximise Tunisia's participation in the
implementation and monitoring of horizontal and sectoral actions and networks
of Euro-Mediterranean industrial cooperation, including competitive hubs;

·
encourage the listing of industrial enterprises
with European and international central purchasing and contracting bodies and
support the organisation of a European-Tunisian industry and technology
partnership salon in Tunisia;

77.         Pursue dialogue on the future of
the textile/clothing industry

·
support the transition from subcontracting to
co-contracting and the development of products, and step up cooperation in the
development of labelling that facilitates market access;

·
develop cooperation and the transfer of know-how
relating to finishing operations (reducing energy and water consumption) and
promote cooperation and exchange of good practices in logistics, multimodal
transport, wastewater treatment and technical textiles.

7.3 Tourism

78.         Development of cooperation with
the EU to support implementation of the tourism development strategy

·
help the tourism sector and tourist firms to
adapt to market developments and new information technologies (electronic
tourist trade, web-compatibility);

·
improve the quality and diversity of all aspects
of the supply and professional skills in the sector;

·
promote the restructuring of investment in and
financing of tourism.

79.         Promote partnerships and exchanges
of best practices in investment and tourism promotion and involve the private sector

·
facilitate Tunisia's participation in EU
programmes concerning innovation, competitiveness, labelling and development of
supply;

·
encourage the organisation of forums on the
opportunities for investment and partnership in tourism and of promotional activities.

7.4 Strengthening
cooperation in the crafts sector

80.         Support for Tunisia in
implementing the national crafts development plan that aims in particular to:

·
consolidate and modernise the institutional,
professional, regulatory, fiscal and financial framework for craft activities
and develop a long-term communications strategy for the sector;

·
develop the knowledge and technical skills of
craftspersons and craft enterprises by modernising educational structures and
procedures, vocational training, apprenticeships, research and innovation, and
assistance for business start-ups;

·
promote the upgrading of craft enterprises,
improve quality, and develop marketing and investment in production
infrastructure.

7.5
Strengthening cooperation on consumer protection

81.         Cooperation on consumer protection

·
develop exchanges of experiences and expertise
in consumer protection in order to build administrative capacity for the
implementation of the consumer protection policy;

·
take stock of the alignment of Tunisian legislation
on EU legislation in the field of consumer protection; in particular,
continue screening of Tunisian legislation on product composition,
labelling, manufacture and description to bring it into line with the existing
EU general rules;

·
enhance the role of consumer associations in
consumer protection;

·
implement recommendations resulting from the
twinning of Tunisian and European institutions responsible for consumer
protection.

Pillar 8 - A green and sustainable economy

8.1 The
environment and sustainable development

82.         Promoting sustainable development
and establishing an enhanced environmental protection policy

·
improve the strategic planning of environmental
issues, encourage sustainability assessments and strengthen national and local
structures responsible for the environment;

·
strengthen biodiversity conservation programmes
by improving the legal framework and implementation of the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity, in accordance with the 20 objectives of the 2011-2020 Strategic
Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);

·
set up a programme to clean up industrial
centres and facilitate implementation of the national waste-management plan,
sustainable management of forests and actions to halt coastal degradation,
desertification and soil degradation;

·
strengthen national policy on water-resource
mobilisation through the use of unconventional resources, including treated
wastewater.

83.         Improving environmental governance

·
increase the involvement of the various
stakeholders with an interest in environmental performance (e.g. civil society
and scientists), in accordance with Rio Principle 10;

·
strengthen the system of monitoring, collecting
and processing environmental information and improve the administrative
capacity of the structures implementing preventive measures, pollution control
and monitoring of the state of the environment;

·
adopt communication strategies on the
environment and support education programmes on sustainable development.

84.         Supporting the transition to a
green economy

·
develop a legal framework for green investments
and develop sectoral and regional planning geared to the transition to a green
economy;

·
support the creation of eco-innovation and
excellence platforms and networks for sharing scientific knowledge about the
green economy, and promote research and technological innovation and the
diffusion of green technologies;

·
support corporate social responsibility
programmes for the transition to a green economy.

85.         Enhancing regional cooperation on
environmental issues

·
strengthen regional cooperation with
neighbouring countries and between regional and local authorities, particularly
in the framework of the Horizon 2020 initiative for the decontamination of
the Mediterranean and with regard to water and desertification problems;

·
cooperate in implementing the commitments made
in the Barcelona Convention and ratifying and implementing the Protocols
of that Convention;

·
introduce innovative instruments for cooperation
with the EU on the implementation of environmental protection conventions and
protocols, particularly those concerning biodiversity, desertification and
waste management;

·
strengthen cooperation between Tunisia and the
European Environment Agency.

8.2 Climate
change

86.         Strengthen cooperation on climate
change

·
strengthen the Tunisian institutions responsible
for climate issues and continue implementation of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, in particular implementation of the 2010
Cancun and 2011 Durban Agreements; In particular:

·
cooperate in the development of low CO2
emission strategies for a development geared to a low carbon economy and
resilience to climate change;

·
draw up inventories of greenhouse gases and
implement monitoring, reporting and verification measures (MRV).

·
cooperate in the development and implementation
of a post-2012 climate change regime, including nationally appropriate
mitigation actions (NAMAs);

·
exchange experiences and draw up and implement
plans and strategies for climate-change mitigation and adaptation;

·
conduct initial preparations for a greenhouse
gas emission trading scheme;

·
implement monitoring and early warning tools for
better cooperation on climate change at Euro-Mediterranean level.

8.3
Integrated maritime policy

87.         Developing an integrated approach
to activities related to or having an impact on the sea and coastal areas, both
nationally and regionally, in accordance with international law

·
develop an integrated maritime policy that takes
account of various marine and maritime interests and is based on the relevant
regional/international agreements;

·
strengthen the administration's institutional
structures for coordination of the sectors having an impact on the sea and the
governance of various maritime activities at appropriate levels;

·
promote the establishment and management of
protected biological areas/reserves in conformity with the recommendations and
activities currently being developed in the framework of international and
regional cooperation, including the Barcelona Convention and the General
Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean; ratify and implement the Integrated
Coastal Zone Management Protocol to the Barcelona Convention (ICZM).

C.          Human and scientific dimension:
people-to-people links

Pillar 1 - Developing skills and access to
knowledge

1.1 Education

88.         Improving the quality of education
and curriculum content

·
pursue improvements in the quality and
performance of the education system, particularly as regards school failure,
teacher training and school curriculums and textbooks;

·
establish a good quality technical and technical
education and guide students towards these sectors;

·
improve the teaching of foreign languages and
develop interactive training;

·
step up and disseminate the use of information
technology (ICT) in education.

1.2
Vocational training

89.         modernise the national system of
vocational training and develop vocational training offering good job
prospects;

·
build the institutional capacity of the Ministry
of Vocational Training and Employment (MFPE) to steer strategy and engage in
results-based management;

·
draw up and implement a strategy to reform
vocational training in line with the plans to reform higher education to make
it more relevant to labour market needs;

·
continue implementation of the National
Qualifications Framework (NQF);

·
continue implementation of the
Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise as regards the promotion of
in-company training, development of an entrepreneurial mindset among students
on vocational courses and greater internationalisation in training; jointly assess
progress on the basis of the pertinent regional indicators.

1.3 Higher
education

90.         Support reform of Tunisia's higher
education system and its convergence on Bologna Process principles

·
step up dialogue to support reform of Tunisia's
higher education system and its convergence with Bologna Process principles;

·
complete the BMD reform (Bachelor, Master,
Doctorate), consolidate doctoral studies, establish a national system of
evaluation, quality assurance and accreditation and the National Qualification
Framework (NQF);

·
strengthen co-degree programmes and
co-supervision of theses between Tunisia and EU countries and promote the
mobility of students, teachers and researchers;

·
introduce tools to facilitate transparency,
comparability and recognition of studies, such as the system of accumulation
and transfer of credits (ECTS);

·
improve the teaching of foreign languages.

91.         Improving the quality and
governance of Tunisia's higher education system and enhancing the employability
of graduates

·
improve the governance and autonomy of higher
education institutions and of the certification process, through, inter alia,
exchanges of experiences and good practices;

·
enhance the employability of the graduates by
improving the information and guidance system in collaboration with schools,
higher education institutions and employers;

·
improve the information and guidance system in
collaboration with schools, higher education institutions and employers;

·
develop vocationally-oriented training in higher
education.

92.         Increase Tunisia's involvement in
European external cooperation programmes

·
promote Tunisia's involvement in programmes to
support higher education reform and existing and future European mobility
programmes and partnerships in higher education;

·
continue information campaigns on these
programmes aimed at potential applicants, students and academics.

1.4
Scientific and technical research and innovation

93.         Enhancing the role of the national
research and innovation system in building the knowledge economy

·
improve governance of the national research and
innovation system and coordination between the actors of this system;

·
increase synergies between the system of
innovation and research and the productive sectors by setting up structures to
enhance value and act as interfaces, developing thematic sectoral innovation
networks bringing together research and interface structures and businesses,
and promoting projects between these networks and their European counterparts;

·
expand the Tunisian network of analysis and
testing laboratories;

·
support the development of infrastructure for
research, technology and innovation;

·
continue implementation of innovation-related
aspects of the Euro‑Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise and consolidate
progress on the basis of indicators established at regional level;

·
promote cooperation and mutual exchanges of
information on patents and technology transfers;

·
EU support for the development of funding
instruments for innovation;

·
strengthen the bilateral and regional policy
dialogue on research and innovation, notably by harmonising national/regional
innovation systems on both sides of the Mediterranean and increasing the
synergies between research and the productive world and the innovatory capacity
of companies across the Euro-Mediterranean region.

94.         Tunisia's involvement in the
European Research Area

·
build up the knowledge and capacity of Tunisian
research and innovation institutions so that they can participate more fully in
the European Research Area (FP7, CIP, Horizon 2020, COST and agencies);

·
identify topics of common interest in research
and innovation, further strengthen exchanges of researchers in research and
innovation projects and strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation;

·
promote reciprocal exchanges of information on
innovation strategies and technological development (in particular within the
EU 2020 Strategy);

·
consolidate the network of national and thematic
contact points for the framework research programme;

·
facilitate the mobility and circulation of
researchers and staff involved in joint Tunisian-European science and
technology actions.

Pillar 2 - Development of cooperation on health

95.         Improving health standards,
research and health monitoring in Tunisia

·
promote reform of the health sector with a view
to improved performance and smaller regional disparities and the establishment
of a quality mechanism in the Tunisian health system;

·
support the computerisation of hospitals'
medical information systems and the generalisation of the medico-economic
system of evaluation of hospital stays;

·
promote reform of the health financing system:
financing structure, care packages and level of solidarity;

·
promote approaches aimed at fairer access to
good quality healthcare, implementation of a management plan, renovation and
reorganisation of hospitals (healthcare map, medical programming studies,
architectural and environmental quality and financing of investment plans);

·
improve the national organ transplant strategy
by establishing a national register of terminal organ failures;

·
step up cooperation with international and
European organisations, for example on research and development in health.

96.         Prevent and control communicable
and non-communicable diseases

·
implement international health instruments, e.g.
the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control and the WHO International
Health Regulations;

·
promote cooperation on health indicators through
international networks for the exchange of information on the prevention and
control of communicable and non-communicable diseases;

·
formulate and implement a national strategy for
the prevention and treatment of addictive behaviour and support efforts to
promote good health and healthy behaviour at all ages so as to prevent or delay
the onset of chronic diseases;

·
bolster capacity to detect and respond to health
threats, including training, in particular by setting up a computerised system
for epidemiological surveillance and developing health-risk management
strategies and programmes.

Pillar 3 - People-to-people links in the areas
of culture, youth and media

3.1
Cultural cooperation

97.         Strengthening regional cooperation

·
strengthen Tunisia's cultural policy and the
capacity of its cultural operators, in particular by integrating Tunisia in
European programmes and projects, providing support for projects to restructure
and institutionalise the cultural sector and promoting exchanges of good
practices and the drafting of studies and joint projects on the local
governance of culture;

·
promote cultural exchanges thanks to Tunisia's
greater participation in cultural cooperation programmes of the Mediterranean
region;

·
help Tunisian cultural products gain access to
the European market by promoting the mobility of Tunisian artists,
professionals and practitioners, setting up networks and dedicated twinning
schemes to promote cultural industries;

·
through the above actions, promote implementation
of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the
Diversity of Cultural Expressions, to which Tunisia is a party.

3.2 Youth

98.         Strengthening cooperation on youth

·
step up cooperation on the non-formal education
of young people and youth workers in order to promote exchanges of information
and good practices in areas of common interest, intercultural dialogue and the
development of civil society;

·
strengthen cooperation on youth and help
consolidate associative and civic life, particularly as regards environmental
protection, voluntary work, campaigning against smoking and drugs, and the
prevention of sexually transmitted diseases: AIDS/HIV.

3.3 Cooperation
in the audiovisual and media field

99.         Strengthen cooperation on the
media

·
promote and continue dialogue and cooperation in
the audiovisual and media field. A special effort will be made to ensure a
transparent, effective and predictable regulatory system with an independent
regulatory authority in the audiovisual and media field.

D.          Support
for implementation of the Action Plan

Pillar 1 - Technical and financial
support

1.           The financing of the partnership
between Tunisia and the EU will be tailored to the development and
implementation of reforms, particularly in the priority areas identified during
the implementation of the Action Plan and subsequent revisions of the Plan, in
accordance with the 2011[5]
and 2012[6]
EU communications on the neighbourhood policy.

During the implementation period of the Action
Plan Tunisia will have to face several challenges: on the one hand,
establishing a sustainable democracy, reviving economic growth and promoting
social cohesion, and on the other, concluding the DCFTA.

The implementation of this agreement will
require major efforts aimed at approximation with the EU acquis, institutional
modernisation and the upgrading of infrastructure.

The EU's financial support, which increased
following the revolution, should continue to rise in order to support a genuine
policy of convergence with the EU and back Tunisia in its reform efforts.

The intervention areas of the EU's future
financial and technical support will be determined on the basis of the
priorities identified in the Action Plan and will reflect Tunisia's political
and socio-economic reform ambitions, as specified in this Action Plan;
these areas will be decided by both parties in the course of the programming
exercise, outside the negotiations on the Action Plan.

Throughout this process Tunisia will be
eligible for all the funding instruments available for the EU's external action
and the new European Neighbourhood Policy, and will benefit from the expertise
of the EU institutions and Member States in carrying it out.

2.           The two parties have agreed to
examine ways to move towards a new phase in access to adequate EU funds to
support Tunisia, in line with the EU's regional and cohesion policy and the
adoption of new implementing procedures.

Tunisia, in the throes of historic changes and
in response to the legitimate aspirations of its people and its youth for
progress and prosperity, must face up to two absolute priorities, namely the
creation of jobs for a young, ever more educated population and a more
equitable regional development.

3.           Financial cooperation with the
EIB and the EBRD will also increase in order to support investment in
infrastructure, the financial sector and development of the private sector and
partnerships, and support innovative sectors that create jobs for young
graduates.

There will also be cooperation with these two
institutions under the new ENP guidelines to improve SMEs' access to
finance and develop guarantee mechanisms.

In view of the discussions on extending the
remit of the European Investment Fund (EIF) to the Mediterranean, as proposed
in the new ENP, cooperation with the European Investment Fund will start as
provided for the new ENP guidelines on the promotion of SMEs' access to finance
and development of guarantee mechanisms.

4.           In addition to financial support,
the two parties will pursue efforts to:

·
optimise the implementation of existing
financial instruments through better targeting of cooperation programmes and
better collaboration between Tunisia and the EU to boost Tunisia's absorption
capacity;

·
take advantage of all the relevant and necessary
new instruments and thematic programmes put in place by the EU as part of its
external action, taking into account Tunisia's needs, progress in reform and
absorption capacity.

Pillar 2 - Participation in European
Union agencies and programmes

Participation in European Union agencies and
programmes

·
encourage Tunisia to become involved in EU
agencies and programmes open to non-member countries;

·
conclude a framework agreement to encourage Tunisia
to become involved in EU agencies and programmes open to third countries.

E.           Adoption and duration

The Plan will be submitted to the
EU-Tunisia Association Council for formal adoption. Its duration will be five
years.

The European Union and Tunisia are fully
entitled to conduct their own unilateral reviews of progress in implementing
the Plan.

EU-Tunisia relations: a privileged
partnership
2013-2017 Action Plan

Annex 1: Table of priorities

Objectives || Actions Tunisia || Possible EU support[7] || Indicators and timetable

1. Establishing a democratic electoral system, in particular consolidation of the independence and functioning of the independent electoral commission (ISIE) responsible for the management and organisation of elections || - Adopt appropriate constitutional or legislative provisions and the relevant transitional measures. - Provide the ISIE with the means necessary to function independently. - Ensure that civil society participates in the drafting of the electoral law and the holding and monitoring of elections. - Promote partnership with civil society through a participatory approach. || - Direct support for the ISIE. - Provision of expertise on all matters relating to the electoral process, including security. - Deployment of an EU Election Observation Mission. - Support to civil society organisations. || - Organic Law No 23/2012 of 20 December 2012 on the ISIE. - Effective functioning of the ISIE. - Organisation of general elections on the basis of the acquis of the October 2011 democratic elections. - Dialogue on the electoral process, including dialogue on the follow-up to the recommendations of the 2011 EOM by the relevant authorities on the basis of their prerogatives and specific competences. - Publication of all the election results and procedure for handling errors in place. Timing: short term

2. Ensuring the independence of the judiciary, increasing its professionalism and efficiency (access to justice, duration of trials), and upholding human rights, the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial || - Strengthen the rule of law and aid for the democratic transition by supporting the reform of the justice and prison systems in accordance with international laws and standards.  - Adopt a legislative framework compatible with international standards. - Put in place an appropriate operational institutional framework, human resources and logistical resources. - Modernise the prison system. - Promote partnership with civil society and a participatory approach to these reforms. - Promote the transparency of and access to information. - Adopt and implement the draft law on transitional justice submitted to the NCA in November 2012. - Set up the national authority for transitional justice provided for by law (Truth and Dignity Commission). || - Technical assistance. - Capacity-building. - Support for the modernisation of court infrastructure. - Support to civil society organisations. - Provision of expertise. - Training. - Technical support to the national transitional justice authority. || - Adoption and implementation of laws on the independence of and access to justice adopted by the NCA and the future parliament. - Adoption of the law on the status of judges and adoption of the Organic Law on the Governing Council of the Judiciary. - The Governing Council of the Judiciary is operational. - Civil society is invited to attend meetings of the steering committee of the support programme for justice reforms (concluded by the EU and Tunisia in 2012). - Gradual rehabilitation of the courts, depending on the means and budgets allocated, in accordance with international standards. - Harmonisation of the legislative, regulatory and institutional framework in line with international standards. - Implementation of the provision authorising and strengthening NGOs' access to prisons. - Setting-up of a mechanism to monitor the number of pre-trial detentions and incarceration rates. Timing: medium term

3. Reforming the security sector as part of a root-and-branch reform to ensure compliance with international standards on the rule of law, human rights and international law. || - Adopt appropriate legislative and regulatory reforms, including democratic oversight and accountability mechanisms. - Ensure the participation of civil society in the preparation and monitoring of reforms (participatory approach). Evaluation of results. - Provide the necessary training (including respect for human rights) to the staff concerned. - Equip the security forces with the resources and equipment necessary and appropriate to their needs, in a spirit of the minimum use of force. Assess the effects of this action. [- Make available to the public the organisation charts and codes of conduct of internal security forces.] || - Financial support for the security-sector reform programme. - Provision of expertise and training. - Support to civil society organisations. || - Adoption by the CNA and the future parliament and effective implementation of legislation incorporating international standards of governance, respect and promotion of international law and human rights, in accordance with the principles of the rule of law. Timing: medium term - Adoption by the CNA and the future parliament of a mechanism for democratic control over the security forces. - Setting up of parliamentary committees to monitor national security budgets. Timing: medium term - Validation and start to implementation of peer-review recommendations on borders and migration/reform of the security sector. Timing: short and medium term

4. Strengthening the protection of human rights, including the rights of women and children || - Ensure gradual and effective implementation of international conventions. - Adopt appropriate legislative and regulatory reforms. - Ensure civil society participation in the formulation and monitoring of reforms. - Provide the necessary training for the staff concerned. - Confirm the standing invitation to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN's special mechanisms on human rights. - Set up an independent mechanism for monitoring the rights of the child. - Draft a framework law on violence against women in line with international standards. - Maintain the de facto moratorium on executions. - Remain involved in the cross-regional initiative on the death penalty, supported by the EU within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly. - Adopt organic law on a national body on prevention of torture. - Set up national body on prevention of torture. - Revise the law on the human rights authority in accordance with the Paris Principles (1993). || - Political dialogue and consultations in UN forums. - Provision of expertise. - Training. - Support to civil society organisations. - Institutional and technical support. || - Adoption and gradual implementation of laws and regulations implementing international conventions ratified by Tunisia. Timing: long term - Lodging of instruments of ratification lifting reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Timing: medium term - Revision of the Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure, in particular as regards freedom of expression and the rights of women and children, in accordance with international standards. Timing: medium term - Adoption and implementation of laws setting up an independent mechanism for monitoring the rights of the child. Timing: short term - Progress toward ratification of the third Optional Protocol to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Timing: medium term - Adoption and implementation of framework law on violence against women in line with international standards. Timing: medium term - Continue national dialogue on the abolition of the death penalty. Timing: medium term - Adoption and implementation of the draft law submitted to the NCA in November 2012. Timing: short term - Revision of the law on the human rights authority and its effective implementation in accordance with the Paris Principles (1993). - Adoption and implementation of the articles of association of the human rights authority. Timing: short and medium term - Organisation of training in human rights for staff concerned. Timing: implementation throughout the duration of the Action Plan

5. Reforming the media and professionalisation of the sector || - Adopt appropriate constitutional, legislative and regulatory reforms. - Provide the necessary training for the institutions concerned. - Ensure the participation of civil society in the formulation and monitoring of reforms, including trade unions and organisations working in the field of press freedom and freedom of expression. || - Provision of expertise. - Training. - Support to civil society organisations. || - Effective functioning of the audiovisual communications authority. Timing: short term - Continuation of dialogue on mechanisms to protect journalists doing their job. Timing: short term

6. Enhancing the role and capacity of civil society. || - Ensure a transparent and open framework for the organisation and work of civil society actors. || - Provision of expertise. - Training. - Support to civil society organisations. || - Adoption of laws guaranteeing freedom of association as provided for in Decree-Law No 2011-88 of 24 September 2011. Adoption of transparent rules for public funding of associations. Timing: short term - Holding of regular thematic and regional consultations with members of civil society, especially concerning the dialogue with the EU. Timing: implementation throughout the duration of the Action Plan

7. Dialogue on migration, mobility and security and conclusion of a Mobility Partnership || - Pursue dialogue on migration, mobility and security. - Draft and implement a national strategy on migration and Tunisians abroad. - Implement the measures provided for in the Mobility Partnership (capacity building, knowledge management, data collection, etc.). - Ensure civil society participation in the formulation and monitoring of reforms. - Cooperate with the UNHCR in implementing the Regional Protection Programme, enact legislation and create administrative capacity for asylum. - Cooperate with the EU in the fight against organised crime, including the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings. - Conduct actions to promote the links between migration and development. - Develop research on migration, including migration profiles. - Promote the welfare of Tunisian workers and members of their families and implement the decision of the Association Council on the coordination of social security between Tunisia and the EU under Articles 65-68 of the EU-Tunisia Euro‑Mediterranean Association Agreement in order to improve the portability of pension rights acquired by Tunisian workers and members of their families in the EU in accordance with Articles 8 of the Mobility Partnership between Tunisia, European Union and its participating Member States. - Create a national migration observatory and endow it with capacity to carry out studies, migration profiles, policies and develop expertise in the field of migration. - Start up initiatives and programmes to enable the observatory to involve Tunisian citizens abroad more fully in the country's development. || - Support for the implementation of the measures provided for in the Mobility Partnership. - Technical support and training for implementation of the strategy. - Institutional and technical support. - Capacity-building and provision of expertise. - Exchanges of experience and information with EU institutions and agencies and the EU Member States. - Training. - Support to civil society organisations. - Support for training and technical assistance. - Training. - Support to civil society organisations. - Twinning and exchanges between institutions. - Capacity-building by training Tunisian administrators about Community rules on the coordination of social security schemes, the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) and the European electronic exchange of social security information (EESSI). - Meeting(s) of the Migration and Social Affairs Subcommittee to start talks on a draft decision to implement the provisions of the Association Agreement on coordination of security systems. - Technical assistance. - Twinning. || - Implementation of the strategy. - Implementation of the objectives of the strategy in accordance with international standards. Timing: medium term - Holding of regular consultations with members of civil society, especially in the course of negotiations on the Mobility Partnership. Timing: short term -The annex to the Mobility Partnership will set out the support measures of the EU and Member States party to the Partnership. Timing: implementation throughout the duration of the Action Plan - Setting-up of an interministerial committee to monitor the security and humanitarian situation following closure of the Choucha camp. Timing: short term - The UNHCR's Permanent Representative in Tunisia takes part in the work of this committee. - Implementation of the measures provided for in the Mobility Partnership. Timing: implementation throughout the duration of the Action Plan - Proposal for the adoption of a draft decision submitted to the Association Council. Timing: medium term - Presentation, adoption and implementation of the decree. Timing: medium term

8. Economic reform for inclusive growth, competitiveness and a better business and investment climate || - Reform public governance, strengthen the modernisation of the administration and transparency in public-finance management. - Make the economy more resilient by consolidating macroeconomic fundamentals. - Start canvassing reform of the food and energy subsidy system. - Implement reform of the tax system (legislative and institutional framework). - Strengthen internal and external controls, verification and auditing in the public sector. - Make the economy more competitive by continuing reform, recovery and upgrade programmes [and the creation of an attractive framework] (industry, agriculture, services, crafts and tourism). - Boost green growth as part of strategies to promote a green economy. || - Continuation of support programmes for economic recovery and objective-based budget management. - Provision of expertise, training, institutional support and twinning. - Dialogue on recovery strategies. - Support for upgrading programmes in industry, agriculture, crafts and tourism. - Support for civil society. || - Adoption and implementation of the Organic Law establishing the National Agency on Probity and the Fight against Corruption; Timing: long term - Continued implementation of objective-based budget management. Timing: medium term - Establishment of active management of the state's cash flow. Timing: medium term - - A study on the reform of the food and energy subsidy system is under way. Timing: short and medium term - Programme of tax reform adopted. Timing: medium term - Plan to introduce electronic procedures for public procurement is implemented. Timing: medium term - - A new generation of major government applications is initiated (e-gov, open data, etc.). Timing: long term - Design and implementation of a new action plan to enshrine access to information in accordance with the new organic law. Timing: short term - Formulation of a strategic framework for consulting citizens. Timing: medium term - Strategy to restructure and strengthen internal and external controls, verification and auditing in the public sector. Timing: long term - Programme to upgrade the tourism sector initiated and continuation of programmes to upgrade and modernise other sectors (agriculture, industry, services and crafts). Timing: medium term

|| - Review the legal and regulatory framework and strengthen policies and instruments that favour investment and create an environment conducive to business and partnerships, including stronger protection of foreign investments. - Raise awareness among economic actors, in particular Tunisian SMEs, and provide them with the necessary support for application of the European directives and standards adopted by Tunisia. || - Provision of expertise and training. - Support for policies and financing programmes that support innovation and the private sector. - Support for attracting EU investment. - Institutional support and twinning. - Support for the Joint Council of Entrepreneurs. - Support for the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), inter alia through cooperation between Tunisian and European SMEs in the Enterprise Europe Network. || - Legal and institutional framework for public-private partnerships is finalised. Timing: short term - - Revised investment code.  Timing: short term - - National investment body set up. Timing: medium term - Joint Council of Entrepreneurs up and running. Timing: short term - Local and foreign investment trends in Tunisia. Timing: long term - Inclusion of requests for partnerships with European SMEs in the database of the Enterprise Europe Network. Timing: medium term - Increasing number of SMEs participating in meetings of the Enterprise Europe Network. Timing: medium term

|| - Improve the governance of the National Statistics System and of the quality and accessibility of statistical products. || - Provision of expertise and training. - Support for modernisation projects of the National Statistics System. - Institutional support and twinning. || - Action plan for the modernisation of the National Statistics System adopted. Timing: medium term - Number of statistical series available on the NSI's website. - Number of official statistical series of publications and methodologies in accordance with international rules and standards available on the NSI's website. Timing: short term - Number of requests on NSI's site following its overhaul. Timing: short term - Existence of good quality reports in each statistical area. Timing: short term - Existence of a timetable for publication of data. Timing: short term

|| - Implement a policy to develop transport services and infrastructure and a national sustainable transport strategy. - Support implementation of the national logistics development strategy. - Promote the development of telecommunications networks and infrastructure. - Develop and strengthen energy networks, infrastructure and interconnections. || - Provision of expertise and training. - Support for attracting EU investment. - Institutional support and twinning. || - Transport policy adopted. Timing: long term - A start to negotiations on an Open Sky agreement. Timing: short term - Implementation of the national logistics development strategy. Timing: short and medium term - Revised telecommunications code to ensure sustainable availability of and access to ICT networks/services in all regions. Timing: medium term - Energy policy document setting out objectives and strategies is drafted. Timing: long term

|| - Formulate and implement sectoral strategies for developing sectors with high growth potential. - Formulate and implement a National Strategic Digital Plan for Tunisia. || - Provision of expertise and training. - Institutional dialogue. - Institutional support and twinning. || - New industrial strategy promoting specific high-growth sectors. Timing: medium and long term - Sectoral partnership framework setting common objectives (for textiles/clothing and vehicle parts). Timing: medium term - Growth rate of investment in industrial and technological infrastructure. Timing: medium term - Tunisia's Digital National Strategic Plan and Action Plan (2013-2018) set up. Timing: medium term

9. Deepening integration, conclusion of a DCFTA and approximation with the EU acquis. || - Finalise the preparatory stage for negotiation of a DCFTA. - Start negotiations on a DCFTA. - Improve the conditions of market access for goods and services and service providers. - Approximate horizontal legislation on accreditation, conformity assessment and market surveillance and sectoral legislation. - Continue and speed up the upgrading of institutions in charge of accreditation, standardisation, conformity assessment, metrology and market surveillance. - Negotiate with the EU an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) covering construction materials and electrical products, and then add other priority areas to the agreement. - Continue approximation of Tunisian legislation with EU legislation in areas identified as priorities in the DCFTA. - Continue the implementation of customs measures promoting trade facilitation. - Improve the level of consumer protection by: - building administrative capacity for the implementation of the consumer protection policy; - enhancing the role of consumer associations in consumer protection. || - Provision of expertise and training. - Institutional dialogue. - Financial support through the ongoing support programme for improved competitiveness and market access with the aim of upgrading quality, accreditation, conformity assessment and market surveillance structures. - Strengthening monitoring infrastructure. - Twinning. - Support to civil society. - Technical assistance and support through the ongoing support programme for the Association Agreement and the transition and a subsequent programme to support the negotiation and implementation of the Action Plan. || - Start to DCFTA negotiations on the basis of the recommendations of the exploratory phase. - Consultation of civil society during these negotiations. - ACAA for priority sectors signed. Timing: medium term - Number of twinning projects concluded under the DCFTA. - Number of twinning projects and institutional support measures carried out as part of a programme to support the negotiation and implementation of the Action Plan. Timing: short and medium term

10. Developing skills and access to knowledge and innovation. || - Reform, improve quality and strengthen governance of national education systems, higher education and vocational training. || - Provision of expertise and exchanges of information. - Budgetary support through the ongoing PEFESE programme (Support Programme for Education/Training – Higher Education and Graduate Employability). - Institutional support through ongoing TEMPUS and twinning projects. - Methodology support from the European Training Foundation. - Financial support through the future Erasmus + programme for higher education and youth. || - Adoption and implementation of governance strategies for the education, higher education and vocational training sectors based on employability. Timing: medium and long term - Adoption of a national framework for qualifications and validation of achievements and experience, implemented on the basis of the statistical indicators below. Timing: medium term - Number of co-degree programmes and co-supervision of theses between Tunisia and EU countries. Timing: medium term Subject to availability of these statistics. - Number of technical sections/fields created in the school system (long term). - Percentage of schools connected to Internet. - Percentage of young university graduates who find employment within a year of graduation. - Percentage of students leaving secondary school who have received vocational guidance. Timing: medium term

|| - Enhance the role of the national research and innovation system. - Increase Tunisia's involvement and integration in the European Research Area. - Continue implementation of PASRI (project to support the system of research and innovation) and consolidate at regional level. || || - Number of research and innovation institutions involved in the European Research Area and number of joint projects. Timing: medium term - Greater number of students and researchers participating in specific European research programmes. Timing: medium term

11. Employment, social cohesion and integration, and regional and local development || - Develop and implement an integrated national strategy for employment and improved employability. - Energise social and economic transformation through the conclusion of a new social contract and an effective social dialogue between the social partners. - Promote social inclusion policy and implement measures to reduce poverty and integrate vulnerable groups. - Develop more transparent and more modern labour legislation to make the labour market more flexible while protecting the rights of workers. - Creation of a social protection floor. - Implement the provisions on the coordination of social security systems in Article 65 et seq. of the Agreement, in accordance with Article 8 of the Mobility Partnership. || - Provision of expertise and training. - Exchanges of information and institutional dialogue. - Institutional support and technical assistance. - Support to civil society. - Institutional support and twinning, in particular capacity-building for social security funds. - Technical assistance for social protection (pensions reform, evaluation of the new health insurance scheme, etc.). - Training, exchanges of experience and expertise, awareness campaigns. - Thematic programme and cooperation with the EU's specialised institutions. || - Integrated national strategy for employment is implemented. Timing: medium term - A new social contract is concluded and technical subcommittees are set up. Timing: short term - A National Council of Social Dialogue is set up. Timing: short term - Functional networking of public information operators on jobs, vocational guidance and integration into the world of work. Timing: medium term - System for regularly evaluating active labour-market policies. Timing: medium term - Adoption of Tunisia's decent work programme. Timing: medium term - Setting-up of an information system on needy, low-income families. Timing: medium term - Poverty-reduction and social inclusion programmes drawn up and start made to implementation; Timing: medium term - Meeting of the Migration and Social Affairs Subcommittee to start talks on a draft decision to implement the provisions of the Association Agreement on coordination of social security systems. Timing: short term - Proposal for the adoption of a draft decision submitted to the Association Council. Timing: medium term

|| - Initiate a comprehensive process of decentralisation and local governance, and renewal of the role of state services. - Step up regional and local development efforts and reduce regional disparities. - Improve governance of institutions responsible for regional development. - Make regional and local development policies more efficient. || - Institutional dialogue and exchanges to support Tunisia in a logic of regional development and EU cohesion. - Provision of expertise and training. - Budget support being provided for local authority capacity-building. - Support for civil society. - Support for regional development policies and programmes. - Institutional support and twinning. - Crossborder and decentralised cooperation. - Continued support for local authority capacity-building and training of local representatives. - Contribution to the development of bodies responsible for regional development. || - Road map for decentralisation and local governance adopted. Timing: medium term - Reform under way of local government systems, whether legal and regulatory (laws and regulations), institutional and organisational (competences and responsibilities) or financial (local taxes). Timing: long term - Strategy adopted for local human-resource management. Timing: long term - Support for government services at central and regional levels during implementation of decentralisation;  Timing: long term - Number of projects developed in partnership between Tunisian and European local authorities. Timing: short and medium term

|| - Implementation of a reform of the health sector aimed at boosting performance and promoting better access to good quality care. || - Provision of expertise and training. - Contribution to upgrade health infrastructure. - Institutional support and twinning. || - Healthcare reform strategy drafted. Timing: short term - Implementation of healthcare reform. Timing: medium and long term

12. Agricultural and rural development || - Implement a multiannual agricultural and rural development programme, in line with the strategic guidelines of the national agriculture policy and ENPARD. - Strengthen the programme to upgrade agricultural holdings, sectors and agricultural institutions and technical support structures. - Support promotion of quality in agriculture (organic and geographical indications) and in the fisheries and fish-farming sectors. || - Provision of expertise and training. - Support through future ENPARD pilot project in particular. - Support for agricultural upgrade programme; - Institutional support and twinning. - Support for organisation of seminars on PGIs/PDOs and organic products. || - Multiannual agricultural and rural development programme set up and operational. Timing: implementation throughout the duration of the Action Plan - Agricultural upgrading programme relaunched (number of holdings and institutions involved). Timing: long term - Main agricultural sectors (arable crops, fruit and vegetables, meat, milk) recovering. Timing: short and medium term - 20 % of the population covered by the cooperative sector. Timing: long term - Strategies to develop fisheries, fish-farming and organic farming are implemented. Timing: medium term

13. Developing and implementing strategies and programmes for sustainable development || - Improve environmental governance and promote a local approach (decentralisation, local governance) in particular through the strengthening of national policy and administration regarding access to information and public participation. - Establish a strategic planning framework relating in particular to sustainable development (green economy, climate change policy, social responsibility of organisations, innovation and environmental technologies). || - Provision of expertise and training. - Strengthen institutional cooperation and twinning. - Support to civil society. - Institutional and political dialogue. || -  Regional and local structures and environmental actions strengthened. Timing: medium term - Information system on the environment and sustainable development set up with the participation of civil society. Timing: medium term - National Strategy for Sustainable Development and strategic vision for the green economy formulated and validated by the various stakeholders. Timing: medium term

|| - Set up a national programme for pollution prevention, pollution control, environmental upgrading and waste management. || || - National programme for the decontamination of industrial clusters devised and a start made to implementation. Timing: medium term - Strategic review of waste sector carried out. Timing: short term

|| - Implement the relevant international and regional agreements and conventions on environmental protection and climate, the fight against desertification and the preservation of biodiversity. - Develop disadvantaged areas and promote the living conditions of people living in and around national parks in the south and oases by promoting local environmental actions that create jobs and added value, including ecotourism. - Implement strategies and programmes to mitigate and adapt to climate change. || || - Strategy to promote biodiversity and improve living conditions of people living in and around national parks in the south and oases is drawn up. Timing: medium term - National strategy on climate change developed and validated. Timing: short term - Up-to-date greenhouse gas inventory drawn up. Timing: short term - Monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system in energy, industry, agriculture and waste‑management sectors. Timing: medium term

[1]        Communication on 'A new response to a changing
Neighbourhood', COM(2011) 303 final, 25.5.2011.

[2]        Tunisia and the EU signed their first cooperation agreement
in 1969, followed by the conclusion of an Association Agreement in 1995. It was
in this framework, and in the wider context of the European Neighbourhood
Policy, that the first action plan was adopted in 2005.

[3]               A Budget for Europe 2020, COM(2011) 500 final,
29.6.2011.

[4]               Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the
Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.

[5]               A new response to a changing Neighbourhood, COM(2011)
303 final, 25 May 2011.

[6]               European Neighbourhood Policy: Working towards a
Stronger Partnership, JOIN(2013) 4 final of 20 March 2013.

[7]      EU support is
provisional at this stage. Financial cooperation priorities are agreed during
the joint programming exercises and entered in the Single Support Framework. EU
support may be delivered through the variety of financial support methods and
instruments available (budget support, twinning, technical assistance,
including assistance for civil society and physical capacity-building); the choice
will be made following identification and formulation missions in the various
areas where the EU plans to provide support.

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