'Unprecedented': Tunisia refuses entry to MEPs months after EU migration deal
BrusselstimesSep 15, 2023
Tunisia has denied entry to a group of members of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, who were due to start an official visit to the North African country on Thursday.
The five-member delegation led by Germany's Michael Gahler was set to meet with civil society organizations, trade unions, and opposition figures but failed to secure engagements with Tunisian officials.
Tunisia's outrageous refusal is a direct result of the European Commission signing a disgraceful EU-Tunisia migrant deal and giving a blank cheque to the autocratic Kais Saïed government to insult the EU's parliamentary diplomacy and divide the bloc.
Though Tunisia's decision may be deemed controversial, the EU must find ways to go through this crisis to ensure the long-term success of the migration deal since the EU-Tunisia migration deal has already led to increased boat interceptions and rescues.