Summary:

On 28 August 2024, Italy delivered three patrol boats to Tunisia in accordance with the agreement signed in December between the two countries to strengthen the capabilities of Tunisian National Guard in maritime border surveillance.  

The delivery was conducted in the port of Gammarth in presence of the Italian ambassador to Tunisia and a representative of the Italian Ministry of Interior . The Tunisian Secretary of State and other officials from the Ministry of the Interior officially received boats. Notably, Tunisian media did not cover the story but the Italian media and activists did highlight the event.  

The delivery of the patrol boats was previously blocked when the Italian Council of State issued a precautionary suspension of the transfer to Tunisia after various NGOs signed a petition claiming that it would result in more expulsions of migrants by Tunisian security forces.  

Outlook: 

While Tunisian political leaders have insisted that the country will not serve as the EU’s border guard, the security assistance and related investments remain attractive to the administration. The attractiveness stems not just from the chance to expand the capabilities of the security apparatus, but from the fact that security assistance is often tied to other forms of economic assistance Tunisia desperately needs.  

While this cooperation reflects the ongoing externalization of the EU’s border security to North African countries, the hardware, training, and investment in Tunisia’s security apparatus will likely continue to bring Tunisia to the table with the EU as the migration challenge evolves.   

At present, tension with European and Tunisian NGOs has largely been contained, particularly in Tunisia where civil society activists have remained on the defensive for months in the face of arrests and legal actions. While coordinated legal and social pressure from civil society could theoretically disrupt Tunisia’s expanding security partnership with Italy, this appears unlikely in the short-term. 

The current Tunisian administration will likely continue cooperating with the EU to contain illegal migrants flows in order to gain international legitimacy and economic support. 

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