Written question – Conviction of opposition figures in Tunisia – E-001765/2025

Question for written answer  E-001765/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE)

On 19 April 2025, a Tunisian court sentenced 40 people to prison sentences ranging between 13 and 66 years for conspiracy against internal and external state security[1]. Among those sentenced include journalists, opposition politicians and other individuals critical of the regime. Their conviction led to fierce criticism from civil society and legal experts, suggesting that these charges were politically motivated.

• 1.Has the Commission monitored or engaged with the Tunisian authorities in relation to the aforementioned case, and if so, using what methods?
• 2.On the basis of what assessment does the Commission have sufficient trust in the independence of the Tunisian judiciary, given the significant amount of EU funding benefiting the Tunisian Ministry of Justice?
• 3.What impact will the conviction of these prominent opposition figures have on EU-Tunisia relations, notably on the inclusion of Tunisia on the recently published ‘safe countries of origin’[2] list?

Submitted: 30.4.2025

• [1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/20/tunisia-court-prison-sentences-kais-saied.
• [2] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1070.