Tunisia and EU to Revise and Rebalance Partnership to Meet Current Economic and Geopolitical Challenges
Tunis, Tunisia - On Friday, Tunisia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, emphasized the importance of revising and rebalancing the Tunisia-EU partnership to adapt to the profound economic and geopolitical changes currently underway.
Speaking at the European Day celebration organized by the EU Delegation in Tunisia, the Minister noted that the Association Agreement, concluded over three decades ago, can no longer fully respond to the deep-seated changes in the global economy or the present and future repercussions of conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.
To rebalance the partnership, Nafti suggested improving access to the European market, strengthening high-value-added investments, supporting energy transition and digital transformation, and increasing Tunisia's integration into international value chains.
The Minister stressed that Tunisia remains committed to the principles on which its partnership with the EU was established, a historic partnership that is evolving towards a more balanced, equitable, and respectful relationship that takes into account national priorities and sovereign choices.
Nafti also expressed his desire to see the partnership reach its full potential, leveraging the human capital of Tunisia, a significant portion of which resides in Europe and has contributed to the country's economic and scientific development.
The Minister advocated for smoother mobility for Tunisian students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and artists, through the simplification of visa procedures, to better exploit the considerable potential of Tunisia's human capital in Europe.
Regarding migration, Nafti reaffirmed Tunisia's commitment to a comprehensive and balanced approach based on shared responsibility, promoting legal migration channels, and combating human trafficking networks. He reiterated Tunisia's rejection of any attempt to label it as a transit or destination country for irregular migrants, while reaffirming its support for assisted voluntary return programs as the best way to preserve the dignity and rights of victims.
In the context of regional cooperation, the Minister welcomed efforts to revitalize the Mediterranean partnership, particularly through the Mediterranean Pact, expressing hope for the emergence of structuring, sustainable, and multidisciplinary projects that can consolidate integration and development in the region.
Nafti also recalled that Tunisia's democratic commitment stems from a free and sovereign national choice, anchored in the country's institutions and the legitimate aspirations of the Tunisian people for dignity, justice, and stability. He emphasized that the Tunisian Constitution enshrines the country's attachment to universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, while stressing that the exercise of these rights and freedoms cannot be detached from respect for the law and the state's institutions.
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