About: Tunisia
Fuel ship sinks off Tunisia, threatening environmental disaster
Tunisian authorities intensified efforts on Saturday (16 April) to avoid an environmental disaster after a merchant fuel ship carrying one thousand tons of fuel sank off the coast of Gabes on Friday, two security sources said.
Fear and frustration at EU silence on Tunisia’s slide to autocracy
“There is a high level of public fear,” Ahmed Gaaloul, told EURACTIV, as Tunisia fragile democracy faces growing threats from an increasingly autocratic President.
EU to maintain Tunisia funding despite slide towards autocracy
The EU is to continue providing budget support to Tunisia, the European Commission announced, even as the country’s controversial President Kais Saied moved to immediately dissolve parliament after it voted to repeal his decision to freeze democratic institutions and rule by decree.
Tunisian navy rescues 163 migrants off east coast
The Tunisian navy has rescued 163 would-be migrants, including women and children, off the country's east coast, the defence ministry said on Sunday (6 February).
Tunisia’s democracy on the brink as President Saied cracks down
North Africa's last remaining democracy following 2010's Arab Spring, Tunisia, is facing an existential political and constitutional crisis, six months after the country’s president suspended parliament and announced he would govern by decree.
Around 70 migrants seek refuge on Mediterranean oil rig
Up to 70 migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean took refuge on an oil platform before being handed over to Tunisian authorities, energy giant Shell and a rescue charity said Tuesday (4 January).
Tunisia opposition condemns extension of parliament freeze
Opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied on Tuesday (14 December) slammed his decision to extend a months-long suspension of parliament, accusing him of dealing another blow to the country's nascent democracy.
Tunisia’s democracy faces ‘grave’ threat amid coup claims
Tunisia’s democracy faces its ‘gravest’ threat in the decade since the Arab Spring, opposition and civil society leaders in the country have warned, while the president set out plans to rule by decree and amend the constitution.
We need more EU support for our democracy, Tunisia’s opposition says
Tunisia’s democrats need more support from the EU and European nations as the north African country faces up to months of government by presidential decree, said Ahmed Gaaloul, an Ennahdha party official and a former youth and sports minister.
Borrell: EU should prepare for the next crises – Iraq, Sahel
The fall of Kabul to the Taliban and the chaotic international evacuation effort shows that Europe needs to develop its own military capacity independent of the United States, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell argues.
Tunisia president sacks defence minister amid political turmoil
Tunisian President Kais Saied sacked the defence minister Monday (26 July), a day after ousting the prime minister and suspending parliament, plunging the young democracy into constitutional crisis in the midst of a pandemic.
EU calls on Lebanon to form government quickly
The European Union on Monday (26 July) urged Lebanon's political elite to form a government without delay, following the nomination of Lebanese businessman Najib Mikati to be designated as prime minister.
Tunisian democracy in crisis after president ousts government
Tunisia faced its biggest crisis in a decade of democracy after President Kais Saied ousted the government and froze the activities of parliament, a move his foes labelled a coup that should be opposed on the street.
At least 39 migrants drown off Tunisia as two boats capsize
At least 39 migrants drowned off Tunisia when two boats capsized on Tuesday (9 March), the defence ministry said, as numbers risking the dangerous crossing to Europe continue to rise.
Migrant crossings down 13% in 2020 due to Covid
The number of illegal border crossings into the European Union fell by 13% to around 124,000 last year, the EU's border agency said Friday (8 January).
Tunisia pushes for UN monitors for Libya’s frail ceasefire
Tunisia, the current president of the UN Security Council, called Monday (4 January) for a resolution sending international monitors to support Libya's brittle ceasefire to be adopted as soon as possible.
Keeping the light bright in Tunisia ten years after the Arab Spring
Ten years ago, anti-government protests began in Tunisia, leading up to the toppling of the Zine El Abidine Ben Ali regime in January 2011, the country's transition to democracy, and the start of the Arab Spring that saw the ousting of autocratic rulers across the Maghreb.
Italy wants no more illegal migrants, minister tells Tunisia
Italy has no more room for illegal migrants, its foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said Monday (17 August) on a visit to Tunisia, from where many of them cross the Mediterranean Sea.
Tunisia denies joining a Turkey-led alliance in Libyan crisis
The Tunisian Presidency has denied claims that the country would join an alliance with Turkey and Algeria in light of the ongoing crisis in Libya and insisted it wanted to preserve its neutral status, without taking part in any coalitions.
Ennahdha politician: Tunisia deserves enhanced neighbourly relations with the EU
The EU needs to adapt its approach vis-à-vis the different partner countries in the Mediterranean, and pay more attention to his country, which he described as a “success story”, a Tunisian politician visiting Brussels told EURACTIV.
‘Disembarkation platforms’ outside EU considered to end migrant row
The EU is considering setting up "disembarkation platforms" outside the bloc to process migrants, according to draft summit conclusions seen Tuesday (19 June) by AFP, as Brussels tries to solve a political crisis over immigration.
After Turkish anger, Macron plays down Syria warning
French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday (1 January) played down cautionary remarks he had made about Turkey's operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria after Ankara labelled them as insults.
EU socialists make ‘progressive’ push in Tunisia ahead of election
The European Parliament's Socialists and Democrats (S&D Group) is exploring ways to bring progressive centre-left forces in Tunisia into the fold in order to ensure a democratic transition ahead of the country's first post-revolution municipality election.