EU-Tunisia Association Council
- On: 11.11.2008
- In: Bruxelles
The 7th EU-Tunisia Association Council in Brussels on 11 November 2008 was an opportunity to take stock, with our Tunisian partners, of the very strong cooperation and highly confident relations enjoyed between the EU and Tunisia.
Tunisia, a founding member of the Barcelona Partnership, was one of the first countries to enter into relations with the EU through an association agreement followed by a neighbourhood action plan. In terms of commerce, it entered into a free trade agreement with the EU on industrial products on 1 January 2008. It plays a constructive role in discussions on the Euromed trade roadmap for 2010 and beyond.
In terms of political dialogue, the establishment of a human rights sub-committee in November 2007, which met for a second time on 17 October 2008, has opened new avenues for deeper political dialogue between the EU and Tunisia.
Lastly, Tunisia plays an important role in regional cooperation with the countries of the Maghreb and within the European neighbourhood policy and the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean.
It is thus an important Mediterranean partner for the European Union. The quality of EU-Tunisia cooperation since the establishment of the Barcelona Partnership in 1995 will continue under the neighbourhood policy, a privileged framework for bilateral relations.
- Updated: 30.12.2008
