Ahead of a critical vote in the European Parliament on February 10, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) and CNCD-11.11.11 have issued a joint appeal for MEPs to reject the European Commission’s proposed list of “safe countries of origin.”
This list, introduced in April 2025 as part of the Return Regulation reform and the broader European Pact on Migration and Asylum, is intended to expedite asylum processing and deportations. However, activists argue that the classification serves as a tool to deny protection to vulnerable individuals, specifically asserting that a nation cannot be deemed safe merely through a political designation.
The organizations focused their criticism on the inclusion of Tunisia, contending that the designation ignores the “anti-democratic drift” documented since 2021 under President Kaïs Saïed. The statement cites the concentration of executive power, the erosion of judicial independence, and a broader crackdown on journalists, political opponents, and civil society as clear indicators that the country does not meet safety standards. Furthermore, they argue that Tunisia lacks a functioning asylum system, making it impossible to guarantee a fair and effective individual assessment for migrants currently within its borders.
The declaration also draws on legal precedent, recalling a 2025 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union which mandated that any “safe country” classification must be based on up-to-date and reliable evidence applicable to an entire territory. The signatories, representing 38 European and African organizations, believe these criteria are demonstrably unmet in the current Tunisian context. They warned that ignoring these legal benchmarks would violate international obligations and the fundamental right to asylum.
Finally, the advocacy groups placed the current legislative push within the framework of the July 2023 memorandum of understanding between the EU and Tunis. This agreement, which includes nearly one billion euros in financial support with a significant portion dedicated to border management, has been criticized for prioritizing migration control over human rights. By rejecting the “safe country” list, the signatories hope to prevent the normalization of deportation procedures that could return individuals to environments where they face documented persecution and a lack of legal recourse.
MK/AK/fss/abj/APA