Parliament shouts, pounds table over ‘opaque’ Tunisia migrant deal

July 18, 2023
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At the core of their anger was the fact that a trio of EU figures — European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Dutch leader Mark Rutte — had sealed the deal | Tunisia Presidency/Handout via EPA images

BRUSSELS — Are we not part of “Team Europe”?

That’s essentially what European Parliament members fumed Tuesday as they shouted, banged their fists and grilled a top European Commission official over a recent deal with Tunisia to stem migrants coming to Europe.

For an hour, they pestered EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson over the deal, which offers Tunisia millions to prop up its government, border agency and various industries in exchange for the country’s help in preventing migrants from making the journey to Europe.

At the core of their anger was the fact that a trio of EU figures — European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Dutch leader Mark Rutte — had sealed the deal.

The EU billed the squad as “Team Europe,” a Brussels Bubble term for team-ups between the EU executive and national governments. But MEPs said the branding had just exposed three leaders freelancing on everyone’s behalf.

Team Europe “doesn’t exist,” snapped liberal MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld during the Home Affairs Committee hearing, which featured Johansson. “There’s no basis in the treaties. It is opaque and not accountable.”

As tensions escalated, MEPs called on Parliament to analyze whether the Tunisia deal is even legal.

As it stands, the agreement — mostly an expression of intent and not a binding vow — will next go to EU countries for a broader sign-off. Parliament will get no formal say in the matter.

Johansson called the pact “a political agreement,” but dodged questions from MEPs on whether it is legitimate.

The Swedish commissioner defended the trip’s format, arguing that strong coordination between the Commission and member states is necessary for the EU to speak with one voice. She added that EU leaders backed wide-ranging agreements to limit migrant departures during a summit in June.

“I have too much experience of representing the Commission in contact with third countries and then seeing member states talking with another language to the same country,” Johansson said. “That will make us all so much weaker.”

MEPs protested that the EU executive had ignored them over the deal, arguing the three leaders had no mandate to speak on Europe’s behalf.

They also voiced concern about Tunisian President Kais Saied’s crackdown on domestic opposition and hard-line policies toward migrants from Sub-saharan Africa. The comments echoed human rights groups, which accused the Commission on Monday of using EU taxpayers’ money to prop up an increasingly authoritarian regime.

As part of the migration deal, the EU pledged €105 million to support Tunisia’s border control operations, as well as €150 million to shore up the country’s budget amid rising inflation. More broadly, von der Leyen has said the EU is willing to provide Tunisia with an additional €900 million, provided the country accepts an International Monetary Fund bailout.

Johansson dismissed the human rights criticism, pointing out that the EU’s cash for migration management is funneled through the United Nations’ refugee agency.

“There is a language in line with international law and human dignity in the memorandum of understanding,” she added.

Source: POLITICO Europe