Rights groups urge EU to suspend Tunisia migration support

Dozens of human rights organisations urged the European Union to suspend migration support to Tunisia under a deal they said was fuelling abuses.

The EU signed the agreement with Tunisia in 2023 to provide financing intended to help curb small-boat crossings to Europe.

A statement from 46 rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, said the agreement had failed to protect the rights of refugees and migrants and had fuelled and normalised serious human rights violations.

The groups called on the European Commission and EU member states to immediately suspend border and migration control support to Tunisia, especially support to Tunisian security forces that they said were responsible for serious human rights violations.

The activists said the deal lacked safeguards and had led to reckless and violent interceptions at sea and summary expulsions.

The Tunisia agreement is one of several migration deals the EU has signed with governments in north Africa, including Libya and Egypt, as it seeks to reduce irregular migration from the continent.