Summary:

On 14 March 2024, the European Parliament voted to request from the European Commission a clarification of the reasoning behind a 4 March disbursal of €150 million to Tunisia under a July 2023 migration assistance agreement. 

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Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have raised concerns repeatedly about the assistance agreement reached between the EU Commission, Italy, The Netherlands, and Tunisia. The current and previous concerns center on Tunisia’s human rights record and the perceived erosion of democracy under President Kais Saied’s leadership. 

While previous concerns were raised about providing any assistance to Tunisia, the recent disbursement raised additional concerns that the €150 million was sent in a single tranche as opposed to a gradual release of funds based on the meeting of concrete objectives. 

Additional complaints were issued by MEPs who have called for a clarified and transparent form of monitoring Tunisia’s respect for the rule of law and human rights as the assistance deal is implemented.  

Outlook: 

The recent concern from MEPs over the early March disbursement of funds represents an ongoing and growing frustration between the European Parliament and the European Commission. 

However, the European Commission does not appear set to back down from implementing the “blueprint” for migration-related assistance that they laid out in Tunisia. Similar deals are being actively pursued with Mauritania and Egypt. 

Should the tension continue to grow within the EU over how such deals are being implemented, the pressure could grow to halt or reverse similar programs, including the one in Tunisia. 

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