Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000583/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Ilaria Salis (The Left), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Estrella Galán (The Left), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE)
Recent reports, including the RRX State Trafficking Report[1] (presented at Parliament on 29 January 2025) and a communication from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (AL TUN 6/2024)[2], suggest that Tunisian state authorities may be involved in human trafficking. Findings indicate that Tunisian security forces have allegedly expelled sub-Saharan migrants to the Libyan border, where they may have been handed over to armed groups in exchange for money. The OHCHR has informed Italy, Libya, Algeria and EU representatives[3], yet the EU is continuing to fund Tunisia’s border enforcement and ‘search-and-rescue’ efforts. Reports suggest EU-backed units may be involved in illegal pushbacks at sea, raising concerns about potential state-sponsored trafficking.
- 1.What safeguards are in place to prevent EU funds from supporting Tunisian authorities involved in human trafficking and rights abuses?
- 2.Is the Commission investigating Tunisia’s role in state-sponsored trafficking, and will it consider suspending funding or reassessing the EU-Tunisia agreement?
- 3.Given the vulnerability of the witnesses in the State Trafficking Report in Tunisia and Libya who are willing to testify before EU institutions and courts, does the Commission support establishing a legal-humanitarian corridor for the investigation?
Submitted: 7.2.2025