The battle for Tunisia’s democracy
Tunisia’s president seems unwilling to compromise with his political opponents. But the EU can help set limits on his behaviour through a combination of financial assistance and public statements.
Tunisia
Tunisia’s lengthy road map back to democracy
Tunisia’s international partners have responded too leniently to its president’s announced programme of constitutional reform. They risk allowing him to remain over-powerful for years to come.
13 Dec
Part of the problem? A better European approach to human rights in the Middle East and North Africa
How can Europeans more effectively advance their human rights agenda as part of, and while maintaining, their broader relationships with regional states?
Part of the problem: A better European approach to human rights in the Middle East and North Africa
European states face accusations of neglecting the matter of human rights in their southern neighbourhood, and even of being complicit. Yet they are failing to maximise the influence they could bring to bear.
Tunisia coup: What Europeans can do to save North Africa’s only democracy
Europeans cannot stand apart from the chaos in Tunisia – indeed, active European involvement now can help restore stability to the country
Back from the brink: A better way for Europe to support Tunisia’s democratic transition
The EU and its member states can assist Tunisian leaders by providing new investment – and thereby reboot the democratic transition
Caught in transition: Tunisia’s protests and the threat of repression
As economic hardship and political infighting persist in debt-laden Tunisia, the EU should raise its concerns about the escalation of violence in the country and work to prevent it from sliding back into repression
Power surge: How the European Green Deal can succeed in Morocco and Tunisia
North African countries such as Morocco and Tunisia can help Europe meet its carbon emissions targets and strengthen its position in the face of fierce competition from China
A return to Africa: Why North African states are looking south
North African countries, each for their own reasons, are increasingly turning their attention towards sub-Saharan Africa
Reform from crisis: How Tunisia can use covid-19 as an opportunity
The government must build on its response to the pandemic to create a compromise that shares the burden of reform between political actors and interest groups
Publications
Back from the brink: A better way for Europe to support Tunisia’s democratic transition
The EU and its member states can assist Tunisian leaders by providing new investment – and thereby reboot the democratic transition
Power surge: How the European Green Deal can succeed in Morocco and Tunisia
North African countries such as Morocco and Tunisia can help Europe meet its carbon emissions targets and strengthen its position in the face of fierce competition from China
A return to Africa: Why North African states are looking south
North African countries, each for their own reasons, are increasingly turning their attention towards sub-Saharan Africa
Reform from crisis: How Tunisia can use covid-19 as an opportunity
The government must build on its response to the pandemic to create a compromise that shares the burden of reform between political actors and interest groups
Pushing the boundaries: How to create more effective migration cooperation across the Mediterranean
Introduction As the European Union strives to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean, its policymakers have repeatedly identified North Africa as key to…
The southern front line: EU counter-terrorism cooperation with Tunisia and Morocco
European states should devote more effort to joint work on radicalisation with Morocco and Tunisia
Peripheral Vision: How Europe can help preserve Tunisia’s fragile democracy
Tunisia’s transition to democracy risks falling foul of the same dynamics that brought down the Ben Ali regime
Five years on: A new European agenda for North Africa
Five years after the Arab uprisings in North Africa, the EU needs to avoid an “either-or” mentality on stability versus progress
Tunisia’s elections and the consolidation of democracy
Europe should consider an overhaul of its Mediterranean policy to prioritise support for Tunisia
The struggle for pluralism after the North African revolutions
What next for Egypt, Tunisia and Libya?
Articles
The battle for Tunisia’s democracy
Tunisia’s president seems unwilling to compromise with his political opponents. But the EU can help set limits on his behaviour through a combination of financial assistance and public statements.
Tunisia’s lengthy road map back to democracy
Tunisia’s international partners have responded too leniently to its president’s announced programme of constitutional reform. They risk allowing him to remain over-powerful for years to come.
Tunisia coup: What Europeans can do to save North Africa’s only democracy
Europeans cannot stand apart from the chaos in Tunisia – indeed, active European involvement now can help restore stability to the country
Caught in transition: Tunisia’s protests and the threat of repression
As economic hardship and political infighting persist in debt-laden Tunisia, the EU should raise its concerns about the escalation of violence in the country and work to prevent it from sliding back into repression
Tunisia’s unpredictable elections
Tunisia's upcoming presidential election brings its fragmentation to light
Freeze, confiscate, restore? Swiss ideas for future EU sanctions
Sanctions for ‘misappropriation’ have proved their worth in forging ties with new leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Ukraine. But it is time to strengthen them
Tunisia – between instability and renewal
Strikes and elections are raising the tension in Tunisian society and politics. The socio-economic divisions that led to the 2011 revolution still afflict the country and are causing increased public disaffection.
Tunisia revolts again
Today's riots are more dangerous than those of 2011
Escaping from Tunisia
Explaining the recent spike in migration from Tunisia to Europe
Maximising the impact of Tunisia’s Nobel Peace Prize
How Tunisia's civil society can build on its Nobel Peace Prize win
Specials
Part of the problem: A better European approach to human rights in the Middle East and North Africa
European states face accusations of neglecting the matter of human rights in their southern neighbourhood, and even of being complicit. Yet they are failing to maximise the influence they could bring to bear.
Events
13 Dec
Part of the problem? A better European approach to human rights in the Middle East and North Africa
How can Europeans more effectively advance their human rights agenda as part of, and while maintaining, their broader relationships with regional states?
9 May
Tunisia in transition
The role of Italy and Europe in Tunisia democratization process
1 Oct
Russia and the Middle East
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un évènement en partenariat avec l’Institut d’études de sécurité de l’Union européenne (EUISS) avec Nicu Popescu, Stanislav Secrieru, Julien Barnes-Dacey et Timofey Borisov
7 Jun
Democratisation in Tunisia: Implementing the Constitution and Decentralising the State
Democracy Reporting International and the European Council on Foreign Relations cordially invite you to a discussion of the Tunisian democratisation process
16 May
Tunisia: Challenges, opportunities and strategies to strengthen the country recovery
An event co-organized by ECFR Rome And No Peace Without Justice with the support of Compagnia di San Paolo, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Terna and kindly hosted by Unicredit
16 May
Tunisia: Sfide, opportunità e strategie per rafforzare la ripresa del paese
Evento co-organizzato da ECFR Roma e No Peace Without Justice con il sostegno di Compagnia di San Paolo, MAECI e TERNA e ospitato da UniCredit
8 May
Desayuno de trabajo sobre Túnez y Libia
El pasado viernes 28 de abril, la oficina de ECFR en Madrid, organizó un desayuno de trabajo sobre la situación actual en Túnez y Libia y las principales opciones para Europa y para la política española
12 Dec
Viajemos de Túnez al Sahel: frágil democracia, inseguridad… ¿Europa?
El pasado 12 de diciembre, la oficina de ECFR Madrid organizó un evento sobre la situación en Túnez y Sahel titulado “Viajemos de Túnez al Sahel:…
16 Sep
Crisis and resilience in Libya and Tunisia: Charting a smarter European response
This event looked at how and where European actors and institutions can better work towards overcoming crisis and strengthening resilience in these two critical countries
23 Mar
The Mediterranean: A New European Agenda For North Africa
The future of relations between Europe and North Africa
In the media
He attacks a kind of basic component of the democratic system in Tunisia
The announced dissolution of the Judicial Council fits with Kais Saied’s visible policy of concentrating more and more power in his own hands, judges Anthony Dworkin
It all takes place within the framework of a political system in which all political power is currently in the hands of Saied
Anthony Dworkin comments on the Tunisian government’s plan for a digital referendum on the future constitution
The cost of inaction or too little action could be quite high, as the failure to begin implementing appropriate policies could result in dangerous social and political instability in the near future
What happened was not a sincere effort to defend Tunisia from an imminent threat. But neither was it a well-planned coup to take advantage of local discontent and seize absolute powers.
His popularity now is a law of diminishing returns […] Everything he does is going to lose him some supporters
The difficult decisions that will be needed to manage the situation in Tunisia may undermine Saied’s support, thinks Tarek Megerisi