Europe’s missed opportunity in Tunisia

Outlet: Arab News

Language: English

Abstract: Tunisia, once the Arab Spring's sole democratic success, is now in severe regression, marked by an alarming crackdown on migrants, civil society, NGOs, journalists, and political opposition. The European Union's role is pivotal, having shifted from championing democratic values to transactional deals centered on migration control, counterterrorism, and energy security. This pragmatic shift has resulted in the EU's tacit endorsement of Tunisia's repressive policies, undermining its own ideals. The EU's silence on human rights abuses and failure to support Tunisia's democratic aspirations reveal a troubling prioritization of strategic interests over core values, with profound moral and strategic ramifications.

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