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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2573(RSP))

On the adoption of the special measure in favour of Tunisia for 2023

B-9-2024-0173

on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Michael Gahler

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Parliament's resolution contests the Commission's use of an urgent written procedure to adopt the 2023 special measure for Tunisia, worth EUR 150 million in budget support. It says the political commitment in the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding is not legal grounds for the measure and doubts that democracy, human rights and rule of law conditions are met. It asks the Commission to explain the lack of contact with Parliament, the missing financing agreement, the meaning of 'satisfactory progress', the single-tranche disbursement and Tunisia's rejection of EUR 60 million. It also asks for written clarification on how Tunisia meets fundamental-values requirements, how the measure helps the business climate, and what guarantees Parliament can visit EU-funded projects.

Key points

  1. Contests the need for an urgent written procedure, since the EUR 150 million was announced on 11 June 2023, leaving time for the normal procedure, and sees a lack of respect for parliamentary scrutiny.
  2. Calls on the Commission to explain in the next high-level geopolitical dialogue why no informal contact with Parliament took place before adoption, and expects Tunisia to be a priority country there.
  3. Considers the Memorandum of Understanding commitment to pay budgetary support 'in full' for 2023 is not legal grounds for adopting the measure under Article 23(4) of the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation or an urgent written procedure.
  4. Regrets that the Commission did not proactively give Parliament the financing agreement with Tunisia setting out conditions and requirements, as required by Articles 112(4) and 236 of the Financial Regulation.
  5. Requests an explanation of how 'satisfactory progress' in section 4.3.2 of the action document constitutes clearly defined budget support conditionality under Article 27(4) of the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation.
  6. Doubts that democracy, human rights and rule of law principles under Article 21 TEU, the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation and Article 2 of the EU-Tunisia Agreement are met, given deterioration since July 2021.
  7. Calls on the Commission to provide, before the end of the parliamentary term, written details on how and when it will assess whether the section 4.3.2 disbursement conditions are met and what objective criteria define 'satisfactory progress'.
  8. Requests written clarification on how Tunisia currently meets the section 4.3.2(b) requirement on fundamental values.
  9. Calls on the Commission to explain why it disbursed the EUR 150 million in a single tranche instead of gradually against milestones, as allowed by Article 236(2) of the Financial Regulation, removing the option to suspend further payments.
  10. Calls on the Commission to explain how the measure will improve the business and investment climate given the rule of law deterioration since July 2021, which blocks economic development.
  11. Calls on the Commission to clarify why Tunisia rejected EUR 60 million in budget support under the COVID facility in October 2023 and why it believes Tunisia will accept this measure's budget support.
  12. Calls on the Commission to clarify what guarantees it has received since September 2023 that Parliament may visit EU-funded project sites, and requests a comprehensive reply to Parliament's oral question and this resolution.

Who is affected

  • Tunisia: the resolution concerns EUR 150 million in EU budget support and the country's rejection of EUR 60 million.
  • The Commission: it must explain the procedure, conditions, disbursement and guarantees to Parliament.
  • The European Parliament: it seeks access to the financing agreement and to EU-funded project sites in Tunisia.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 150 million in budget support announced on 11 June 2023.
  • EUR 60 million in budget support rejected by the Tunisian President in October 2023.
  • At least 93 % of expenditure under the NDICI-Global Europe Instrument must fulfil ODA criteria.

Legal basis: Article 14 of the Treaty on European Union.