Human rights and humanitarian organisations accuse the European Union (EU) of contributing to human rights violations against migrants in Tunisia, three years after the signing of the migration memorandum with Tunis.
Forty-six human rights and humanitarian aid organizations called on the European Union and its member states on Wednesday to publicly denounce human rights violations in Tunisia and to end funding for migration control mechanisms established under the memorandum of understanding signed with Tunis on July 16, 2023. In a joint statement published on the third anniversary of this agreement, the signatories argue that it has contributed to “normalising” serious violations of
the rights of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
According to these organizations, the migration component of the memorandum has mobilised €105 million, of which at least €65 million has already been allocated to training, equipping, and providing operational support to Tunisian agencies, including the coast guard and the Tunisian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
The signatories believe this funding benefits institutions accused of mistreatment and implicates the European Union’s political responsibility.
The organisations assert that, since the signing of the agreement, several United Nations agencies and international NGOs have documented violent maritime interceptions, arbitrary detentions, torture, sexual violence, and mass expulsions of migrants to neighbouring countries.
They also denounce official rhetoric deemed discriminatory toward African migrants, which they claim has fostered racist violence and ethnic profiling.
The signatories further criticize the restrictions imposed on Tunisian civil society and recall that the authorities have suspended, since June 2024, activities related to refugee status determination
procedures by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), thus limiting access to asylum.
They also highlight the continued repression against political opponents, journalists, lawyers, and non-governmental organisations since the concentration of power in the hands of President Kais Saied in 2021.
Finally, the organisations believe that migration cooperation cannot be separated from the overall human rights situation in Tunisia.
They criticise the European Commission for failing to demonstrate that the funding provided complies with the Union’s legal obligations regarding the protection of fundamental rights, despite the reservations expressed in 2024 by the European Ombudsman and the European Court of
Auditors.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/as/APA