What's happened
Three years after the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding, rights groups say the pact has intensified border controls and serious human rights violations, amid calls to suspend the agreement and reassess safeguards. Reports detail intercepted departures, abuses, and restricted asylum access, with EU funding tied to Tunisian authorities.
What's behind the headline?
Impacts and dynamics
- The MoU has accelerated externalisation of border controls, aligning EU funding with Tunisian enforcement.
- Rights groups warn that interceptions at sea and pushbacks have increased, with reports of torture and collective expulsions.
- UN experts and NGOs question Tunisia’s status as a safe place for asylum seekers and its functioning asylum system.
- The balance between safeguarding borders and protecting refugee rights remains contested, with advocates urging safeguards, monitoring, and accountability.
What this means for readers
- The funding and cooperation pattern may affect migrants’ safety and access to asylum in the region.
- Policymakers face pressure to reassess externalisation approaches and uphold international protections.
How we got here
The EU-Tunisia MoU, signed on 16 July 2023, aims to prevent irregular departures and bolster border control. Critics argue it externalises migration management at a high human cost, citing funding for coast guard operations and maritime rescue coordination centers, and concerns over asylum access in Tunisia.
Our analysis
All Africa reports detail three-year outcomes of the MoU, highlighting EUR 105 million in migration-related funding and leading concerns from UN bodies and NGOs. The New Arab and The New Arab provide testimonies and context on pushbacks and asylum rights in Croatia and Europe.
Go deeper
- Will the EU suspend or condition funding to Tunisia pending human rights safeguards?
- What protections exist for refugees in Tunisia today, and how are they enforced?
- How are other EU partners adjusting migration cooperation in light of these concerns?
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