BRUSSELS – Cash is king in the EU’s plan to stop European migrants.
Sunday, EU concluded the contract and Tunisia – the place where most people leave Europe – which gives the country millions to help stop the boats that have been carrying so many people to Europe. The key: the partnership continues to move to include areas such as trade, finance and green energy.
This covenant is a foreshadowing of things to come. Now that the EU has the plan, Brussels is eager to do the same with other North African countries. Already, negotiators are looking at Egypt and Morocco as possible targets, according to an EU official who was not identified to discuss the plans.
“The goal of the same agreement,” the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen cried recently.
“An example of building a new relationship with our North African neighbors,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed on Sunday after concluding an agreement during a visit to Tunisia by von der Leyen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Von der Leyen called the trip “Team Europe” on her Instagram account – a symbol of the EU’s teaming up between Brussels and national governments. But for others, it was just a power grab – three people representing all of Europe.
Member of the Dutch European Parliament Sophie ku ‘t Veld responded sarcastically on Twitter that von der Leyen should come to Parliament to “explain what Team Europe is, and how accountability, transparency and separation of powers are ensured?”
Migrant rights activists voiced their dismay at the deal on Monday, saying the EU is scrutinizing Tunisia’s human rights record, as well as its repressive government.
The deal will now go to EU countries for further signatures, giving more time to the opposition to counter their demands.
Debate aside, one thing is clear: This is how the EU wants to prevent migrants from reaching European shores.
This is how they plan to do it.
Do more than just move
The EU stressed that the Tunisia deal is not only about migration. The official documents refer to the country as your “partner” in everything from energy to digital communication.
EU officials said the language was crucial to the success of Tunisian President Kais Saied, who he insisted in June that his country will not be the border guard of rich European countries.
The agreement shows clearly.
The agreement pledges €105 million to support Tunisia’s post-operation border management projects. immigration rate from the Central Mediterranean.
But there is more – more.
The agreement foresees an additional €150 million to support Tunisia’s budget amid rising inflation. There are promises to help Tunisia find cheap, low-carbon energy. It talks about promoting renewable energy production in Tunisia (which, incidentally, could help Europe). There are joint commitments to research and education. There is a section for clean drinking water.
The covenant, however, usually expresses an intention rather than a binding oath. And many things are already happening.
However, von der Leyen has said that the EU is ready to give Tunisia more than 1 billion dollars if everything goes well (and if Tunisia agrees to accept repayment of the International Monetary Fund loan).
The EU official stressed that this example could be followed elsewhere.
“There are some countries in the region where the energy sector can be very important, and where there are also problems with immigration, where there are great opportunities for trade and strengthening economic ties,” the official said.
Abandon human rights for another discussion?
The agreement’s brief speech on human rights has left humanitarian organizations outraged.
The deal is “misjudged,” said Eve Geddie, Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office director, in a statement.
And it comes in the face of “massive evidence of widespread repression of civil liberties by the government,” he said. His signature, Geddie argued, “shows the EU’s acceptance of the extremely repressive behavior of the Tunisian president and government.”
Groups of people oppose He has been cited for dealing with domestic violence and implementing abusive policies against migrants in Sub-saharan Africa.
The story came to light last week after that movie showed sub-Saharan migrants trapped in the desert by Tunisian authorities without food or water.
The EU chief stressed that the development of democracy “remains an important objective of the EU.” But the agreement does not directly affect the issue.
This could become a point of contention as the deal nears final approval.
The three main groups of the European Parliament last week criticized Tunisia for going backwards in democracy. And on Tuesday, the EU Commissioner in charge of migration, Ylva Johansson, will be present at the Parliament to answer questions about the Tunisian agreement.
And if the EU reaches similar agreements with Egypt and Morocco, there will be more questions about “Team Europe.” However, for now, don’t expect the system to change.