HRW and Civil Society Call on EU to Reassess Tunisia Approach Amid Rights Concerns

EU Urged to Reassess Tunisia Strategy as Rights Concerns Mount

Three years after the signing of the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 16 July 2023, a coalition of civil society organizations has called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to initiate a fundamental reset of the EU's approach toward Tunisia. In a joint letter, the groups argue that the current strategy has failed to uphold human rights and press freedom and urge that human rights be reprioritized in EU relations with the Tunisian government.

The appeal comes amid reports of a sharp deterioration in the human rights situation in Tunisia, including a crackdown on dissent, the undermining of judicial independence, and the criminalization of civil society organizations. The letter, as reported by AllAfrica, highlights the imprisonment of journalists, lawyers, and activists, as well as the continued judicial harassment of lawyer and media commentator Sonia Dahmani despite her release from prison.

Coverage Comparison

The reports covered by AllAfrica focus on two main aspects: the content of the joint civil society letter and broader concerns about Tunisia's human rights trajectory. One report details the letter's demands and its specific references to the EU's migration-focused approach, while another emphasizes the severe human rights decline and individual cases such as that of Sonia Dahmani.

Both accounts agree on the core timeline, noting that the MoU was signed on 16 July 2023, and that since then there have been widespread concerns about press freedom and the treatment of dissent. The reports also point to a lack of engagement from Tunisian authorities with the EU, describing an increasingly confrontational attitude toward EU institutions.

Key Claims

Deterioration Since the MoU: The civil society letter describes a "sharp deterioration" in human rights and press freedom since the signing of the MoU. It cites a clear crackdown on dissent, including the imprisonment of journalists, lawyers, and activists, and the criminalization of civil society organizations. The reports note that judicial independence has been undermined through executive interference.

EU's Migration Control Focus: The letter argues that the EU has prioritized migration control at the expense of human rights. It points to the EU's focus on implementing the MoU's migration-related aspects, including reducing irregular migration from Tunisia, while remaining largely silent on human rights abuses. The reports mention that the EU has continued to expand migration cooperation with Tunisia despite documented violations against migrants and asylum seekers, including racially targeted arrests, torture, ill-treatment, and sexual violence.

Safe Country of Origin Designation: The letter also criticizes the EU's decision to add Tunisia to its list of so-called "safe countries of origin," a move that the signatories argue is inconsistent with the documented human rights situation in the country.

Judicial Harassment of Sonia Dahmani: The reports highlight the case of lawyer and media commentator Sonia Dahmani, who remains subject to judicial harassment even after her release from prison. Dahmani, recognized by CPJ as its 2025 International Press Freedom Award honoree, has become a symbol of the broader crackdown on independent voices.

EU's Migration Focus: The civil society organizations argue that the EU's focus on migration control has come at the expense of human rights. They say the EU has continued to pursue aspects of the MoU without effective human rights safeguards, while remaining largely silent in the face of widespread violations against migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, including racially targeted arrests, arbitrary detention, and torture.

Perspectives

Civil Society Organizations: The joint letter, which includes Human Rights Watch and other groups, presents a critical view of the EU's current approach. It asserts that the EU's migration-focused strategy has enabled repression, pointing to Tunisia's recent addition to the EU's list of "safe countries of origin" as particularly problematic. The signatories call for immediate change, demanding that the EU press for the release of wrongfully detained journalists and address the human rights situation in its dealings with Tunisian authorities.

The organizations also emphasize that the EU has prioritized migration control at the expense of human rights, citing limited transparency and a lack of safeguards in migration cooperation. They urge the Commission to initiate a reset that places human rights at the center of EU-Tunisia relations.