Tunisia: do not take it for granted

Tunisia is one of the key partners for Italian and European politics in the southern Mediterranean. At least, it should be so. The perception, on the other hand, is that most European partners have forgotten Tunisia. The reason is simple: unlike Libya or Syria, Tunisia is at peace. Where there is peace, there is no need to plan for long-term policies.

Tunisia is a fragile democracy towards which Italy has duties to fulfill and opportunities to seize, if it chooses. Italy is the country’s second trade partner, with a value of about $5.5 billion a year. This relationship also applies in reverse: today the Tunisian community in Italy is the second Tunisian community abroad, after the one in France. This explains why, in the Tunisian parliamentary system, three MPs are elected from Italy, within the constituencies reserved for residents abroad.

The hoped-for Italian (and EU) commitment should follow a dual track. On the one hand, we have to fight the effects of radicalization. This means a greater commitment to military cooperation. On the other hand, the challenge is to eliminate the root-causes of radicalization. In this sense, it is necessary to support Tunisia in the identification of targeted programs for the socio-economic development of the country.

The main assumption is that the stability and the preservation of the democratic transition in Tunisia represents a direct interest even for Italy, which therefore should be more daring in terms of assistance and support to this country. To do so, our policies towards the southern Mediterranean should leave behind the logic of competition and look more at the long-term benefits for the entire region.

ISPI: Commentary: Tunisia: do not take it for granted [PDF] http://www.ispionline.it/sites/default/files/pubblicazioni/commentary_torelli_30_05_16.pdf

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