The European Union (EU) intends to engage in negotiations with Egypt and Morocco to establish partnerships resembling the recently concluded agreement with Tunisia. These partnerships will primarily focus on addressing irregular immigration, as stated by a European source on Monday.
On Sunday, the EU and Tunisia signed a memorandum of understanding in Tunis, solidifying a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” This partnership encompasses various aspects, including the country’s economic development, renewable energies, and migration concerns.
Regarding migration, the agreement involves European aid amounting to 105 million euros, aimed at preventing the departure of migrant boats from Tunisian coasts to the EU and combatting smugglers. It also aims to facilitate the return of Tunisians residing irregularly in the EU to Tunisia, as well as the repatriation of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa back to their countries of origin.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed her desire for the partnership to serve as a model for future agreements with countries in the region.
An anonymous senior European official highlighted that Egypt and Morocco are among the countries that may be impacted by such partnerships. The official emphasized the mutual benefits that can be derived from this type of cooperation between the two sides of the Mediterranean.
However, criticism has emerged in response to the Tunisia agreement, particularly regarding the treatment of sub-Saharan African migrants by Tunisian authorities. Numerous NGOs have reported the arrest and subsequent “deportation” of hundreds of migrants to inhospitable areas along the borders with Algeria and Libya. Disturbing testimonies collected by AFP via telephone and videos received by NGOs in Tunisia reveal that women and children are abandoned in the desert without access to water, food, or shelter.
The European official stressed that the agreement does not simply entail financial support to the Tunisian authorities. Instead, it includes a series of contracts with various entities, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The memorandum of understanding, signed in the presence of Ursula von der Leyen, Tunisian President Kais Saied, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, must receive approval from all EU member states.
While countries like Italy aimed to have the ability to return migrants to Tunisia who had transited through the country, Tunisia has made it clear that it does not want to become a settlement destination for irregular migrants. As a result, the agreement solely covers the return of Tunisian nationals residing irregularly in the EU.
Under the signed protocol, 15 million euros of the allocated 105 million will be dedicated to the “voluntary” return of approximately 6,000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in Tunisia to their countries of origin.
Furthermore, the EU plans to provide eight boats and drones to Tunisian coastal authorities to enhance search and rescue operations.
