EU: MEPs rejected entry to Tunisia two months in the wake of signing of migration deal
By Ahmad Hadizat Omayoza, Mamos Nigeria
A group of MEPs from the European parliament have been denied passage to Tunisia, bringing up issues about the dubious organization on movement that Tunisia endorsed with the EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen and the Italian leader, Giorgia Meloni, this mid year.
On Friday, the German MEP Michael Gahler’s foreign affairs committee was scheduled to arrive in the nation. The trip has been canceled by us. Since that would be speculation, we have not been informed of the reasons why we were denied entry.
In a later proclamation to the European parliament, Gahler added: ” This lead is uncommon since the popularity based upheaval in 2011. We will continue to be prepared for a dialogue on important issues, and we will insist on it. We will also remind you that this parliament has always approved the comprehensive cooperation agenda, which includes financial support and strengthening democracy, as agreed upon in the association agreement.
He stated that he had complained about the ban to Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs. I figure we shouldn’t acknowledge this”, Gahler said.
The Guardian was able to view the Tunisian refusal document, which was issued by the country’s ministry of foreign affairs. It just expresses that the European parliament’s international concerns advisory group (AFET) was because of visit somewhere in the range of 14 and 16 September. ” It states, “This delegation will not be permitted to enter the national territory.”
The purpose of the visit was to investigate the political situation in Tunisia in depth and promote dialogue regarding the memorandum of understanding that was signed in July by the EU and the Tunisian president.
Meetings with representatives of civil society organizations, trade unions, the opposition, political party emissaries, and EU ambassadors in Tunis were on the agenda.
However, since entry was denied to Tunisia, questions will now be raised regarding the nation’s adherence to the EU and President Kais Saied’s readiness to address concerns regarding a decrease in human rights and the independence of the judiciary under his leadership.
The migration agreement with the EU has been highly contentious. It was condemned as of late as Wednesday by the foundation Médecins Sans Frontières, which said it would make the coalition “straightforwardly complicit in the continuous maltreatment and passings of individuals caught in the country”.
After Von der Leyen, Meloni, and Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, made a flying visit to Tunisia, their second trip in five weeks, the pact on migration was signed.
It includes a new initiative to speed up legal routes for Tunisians to work or study in the EU and an agreement to return the thousands of migrants from Tunisia who risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean to Italy.
As a feature of the understanding, €105m (£90m) will be distributed to assist Tunisia with managing individuals dealers. About €15m will be accessible to convey contracts with helpful associations, for example, the Red Sickle to ship and support travelers who wish to get back to their nations of origin.
Tunisia has been criticized for how it treats migrants. In a racist speech in February, Saied claimed that “hordes” of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were participating in a “plot” to alter the country’s demographic composition. A few onlookers proposed the discourse comprised an endeavor by the president to divert Tunisians from a troubling financial circumstance and a weakening in their opportunities after he suspended parliament in 2021 and started controlling by declaration.
