For the past 40 years, Members of the European Parliament have been working at boosting Parliament’s role in EU foreign policy. These efforts have continued to be stepped up since the launch of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) in 1993. Over recent decades, the European Parliament has significantly raised its profile as a credible moral force with strong focus on strengthening human rights, supporting democracy and enhancing the rule of law worldwide. Continue reading
Written by Joanna Apap and Giulio Sabbati (both EPRS), In cooperation with Laura Bartolini (from GlobalStat | EUI), How fast is Tunisia’s economy growing? How was its economy affected by the ‘Arab Spring’ events? How many women in Tunisia have a job? What is the unemployment rate? Which country is Tunisia’s biggest trading partner? What … Continue reading
Written by Clare Ferguson, The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have spent three weeks negotiating a provisional agreement on the Commission’s proposed 2017 EU budget, which comes before Parliament’s November plenary session for a vote in plenary on Wednesday. The proposals use the flexibility of the multi-year spending programme, the Multiannual … Continue reading
Written by Krisztina Binder (2nd edition), The Tunisian economy has faced serious difficulties since the 2011 revolution. In 2015, the economic situation was significantly affected by the terrorist attacks and production disruption, exacerbating the country’s already weak fiscal and balance-ofpayments position and resulting in sizeable financing needs. As part of the EU’s commitment to supporting … Continue reading
Written by Marcin Grajewski, The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is of strategic importance for the European Union because of its proximity, historic links, energy resources, trade routes and ability to export instability that results from wars, political volatility and poverty in the region. The EU wants to contribute to stability in MENA through … Continue reading
More than 4 African countries out of 5 of have laws criminalizing homosexuality, or even punishing LGBTI* rights advocacy. In 2014 tougher laws were passed in Nigeria, Gambia and Uganda, which followed in the steps of Liberia’s criminalisation of homosexuality in 2012. Continue reading
Written by Clare Ferguson, The EU is committed to supporting democracy in Tunisia and helping the country to counter the political, security and economic issues it currently faces. With solidarity in mind, negotiations began last October on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. The agreement will extend the current cooperation with Tunisia, which was … Continue reading
par Eric Pichon Le 21 décembre, les électeurs tunisiens seront appelés à désigner le premier président directement élu depuis la chute de Ben Ali. Deux candidats sont en lice à la suite du premier tour (23 novembre) : le président sortant, Moncef Marzouki et chef du parti laïque Nidaa Tounès, Béji Caïd Essebsi. Le 26 octobre, Nidaa Tounès … Continue reading
Written by Eric Pichon On 26 October 2014, Tunisian citizens will elect their “Representatives of the People”; this Parliamentary election will be followed by the presidential election on 23 November with a possible run-off on 28 December. These elections are seen by many observers as an important landmark of the democratic transition, after the adoption … Continue reading
Three years after the ousting of the former Tunisian president Ben Ali and the beginning of the uprisings in Egypt, it is perhaps a good time to take stock of what has been accomplished in the “Arab Spring countries” and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Over the last three years, long-standing … Continue reading
The Union of the Arab Maghreb or Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) as it is often referred to, was established in 1989 when the five founding members, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Mauritania, signed the Treaty of Marrakesh. However, hopes for substantial political and economical integration in the Maghreb region quickly dimmed as inter-state political tension – especially … Continue reading
6 language versions available in PDF format Rückführung von Vermögenswerten an arabische Länder, die sich im Übergang befinden Recuperación de activos para los países árabes en transición Recouvrement d’avoirs par les pays arabes en transition Recupero dei beni da parte dei paesi arabi in transizione Odzyskiwanie mienia przez kraje arabskie, w których zachodzą przemiany trojowe … Continue reading
Tunisia has been long viewed as the most progressive among Arab countries in terms of women’s rights. This was also the case during the long rule of President Ben Ali (in power from 1987 to early 2011). Following the January 2011 revolution – in which women have actively taken part – most elements of relevant … Continue reading