Textos da UE

EU-Tunisia 2013-2017 Action Plan, European Neighbourhood Policy

The EU launched its European Neighbourhood Policy in 2004 in a document titled "Wider Europe - Neighbourhood". The Policy created a framework for the EU's relations with 16 of the EU's Eastern and Southern Neighbours - including Tunisia - in order to achieve the closest possible political association and the greatest possible degree of economic integration.

The ENP was reviewed in 2011, following the Arab uprisings, and again in November 2015. While the policy generally aims to foster stabilisation, security and prosperity, the specifics of the EU's efforts depend largely on the bilateral relationship with the country concerned.

There are 16 countries defined as part of the ENP. Of these, 12, including Tunisia, have agreed on bilateral Action Plans or Association Agendas with the EU. These set out a series of political and economic reforms with short and medium-term priorities of 3 to 5 years. ENP Action Plans/Association Agendas reflect the needs, capacities an interests of the country and the EU.

In the case of Tunisia, the country is considered to have a "Privileged Partnership" with the EU. It most recentAction Plan was adopted in December 2013 and covers the 2013-2017 period.

The Action Plan makes reference to reinforcing parliamentary cooperation between the EU and Tunisia in several ways, including through an EU-Tunia Joint Parliamentary Committee and by strengthening cooperation between Tunisia's parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly for the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM).

Joint Communication "Strengthening EU support for Tunisia", 29 September 2016

On 29 September 2016, the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice President jointly addressed a communication to the Council and the European Parliament on Tunisia. Titled "Strengthening EU support for Tunisia", the document underlines the EU's commitment to supporting Tunisia's transition since the country's 2011 Revolution.

The Joint Communication sets out a number of measures that the EU will take, collectively with its Member states, to support Tunisia in overcoming the critical challenges it is facing. With these measures, the EU wants to promote long-term stability, good governance, socio-economic development, and security for all Tunisians.

The document also specified the importance of Tunisia's parliament and the role the European Parliament could play in supporting the country's democracy. The authors "therefore propose to [...] further support the Parliament, to strengthen its oversight of the government's actions and reinforce its initiative capacity; in this regard, propose to the European Parliament that it increases its support for the Tunisian Parliament, making full use of the recently established Joint Parliamentary Committee."

On 17 October 2017, the Foreign Affairs Council responded to the Joint Communication in its own Conclusions.

EU-Tunisia Association Agreement

Tunisia was the Tunisia the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the EU.

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 in Brussels on 17 May 1995 and entered into force on 1 March 1998.

This Agreement forms part of the Barcelona Process (Euro-Mediterranean partnership) and was the first to enter into force. Although all the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements reflect the general principles governing the new Euro-Mediterranean relationship, they each contain characteristics specific to the relations between the parties. Like all the agreements of this type, it contains:
  • a human rights clause, recognised as an essential element of the Agreement;
  • provisions on political dialogue;
  • provisions relating to the free movement of goods, services and capital;
  • cooperation on economic, social, cultural and financial questions.
A joint declaration related to Article 5 of the Agreement, which concerns political dialogue, states that "The Parties consider that political dialogue should be established between the European Parliament and the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies".