Saied’s crackdown: How the EU can stand up for human rights in Tunisia
The EU has invested heavily in Tunisia’s transition to democracy since 2011. Now it must stand up for the rule of law and for the rights of those under threat
Tunisia
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
Publications
Autumn of the patriarch: How to help Tunisians defend their democracy
Tunisia’s autocratic president is leading the country to the brink. The EU and member states should act now to support Tunisian democracy.
Clear and president danger: Democracy and the constitution in Tunisia
Tunisia’s new constitution would create an unaccountable presidency. European policymakers should state that it is not genuinely democratic, while continuing to support the country economically.
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
Articles
Saied’s crackdown: How the EU can stand up for human rights in Tunisia
The EU has invested heavily in Tunisia’s transition to democracy since 2011. Now it must stand up for the rule of law and for the rights of those under threat
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
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
21 Feb
The externalization of Europe’s borders: the only solution?
Migration in the Mediterranean has been a crisis factor for Europe for decades. To shed light on the issue, the discussion will revolve around ECFR’s policy brief edited by Lorena Stella Martini and Tarek Megerisi, which examines the case study of the Central Mediterranean route to analyse European externalization policies, focusing primarily on migration to Italy.
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
In the media
Every pact delegates power and part of our interest to external actors, autocrats, more or less fragile states, or warlords
It would be foolish to think we can compete with China, the United Arab Emirates or even Turkey. To be meaningful, the Mattei Plan will have to fit into a broader framework of EU initiatives
I think that he thinks his charges are believable [for his audience]. They fall in line with his claim that he’s trying to restore the pride of the state
Even if it will be signed, I don’t think the new pact on migration will have any real effect for the EU and Italy. Many of the problems will not be solved
Arturo Varvelli comments on Europe and migration at the end of the European Political Community in Granada
Talking about rejections when our population is aging so fast is not at all far-sighted: we should promote active migration policies and select the people we really need
Arturo Varvelli comments on the understanding between Rome and Tunis, the involvement of the EU and the possible scenarios on migration