On May 28, 2015, Habib ESSID, Tunisia’s Prime Minister, is invited by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence for an exchange of views at EP in Brussels.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

Subcommittee on Human Rights

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

EU - Tunisia (T)

VAUTMANS, Hilde (Renew, BE)

VERGIAT, Marie-Christine (GUE/NGL, FR)

LOCHBIHLER, Barbara (Greens/EFA, DE)

PREDA, Cristian Dan (EPP, RO)

joint meeting

PARGNEAUX, Gilles (S&D, FR)

ESSID, Habib (TN)

Exchange of views with Habib ESSID, Tunisian Prime Minister : extracts from the joint meeting

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/18283182/I103545Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (French), Habib ESSID, Prime Minister of Tunisia, <p>"The country is facing enourmous challenges and the political process must be protected and the democratic development consolidated. Firstly, we must tackle the challenge of economic growth and employment. The relaunch of the economy will by necessarily have to pass via the attraction of foreign investment. The improvement of competitivity and the creation of employment, particularly for the young educated."</p>

SOUNDBITE (French), Habib ESSID, Prime Minister of Tunisia, "In view of the scope of the challenge and the works undertaken, Tunisia needs the support of the European Parliament to engender greater involvement of the European institutions on the technical and economical levels, in the efforts to develop the country, an engagement on a par with the ambitions of our bilateral partnership and the singularity of the Tunisian democratic experience."

SOUNDBITE (French), Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), "I would like you to say a few words on the start of the auditions of the victims of the dictatorship, the abuses of human rights, the transitional justice, a very courageous process which has just started, and I would like to hear a little about that."

SOUNDBITE (French), Gilles PARGNEAUX (S&amp;D, FR), "There is a political rapprochement between your government and the government of Tripoli controlled by this same militia, it is easy to see that it is a case of equlibrism imposed on Tunisia by its complicated regional context, but how will you avoid tensions with the internationally recognised government of Tobruk?"

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Hilde VAUTMANS (ALDE, BE), "There are still reports that journalists and activists risk imprisonment, for us liberals, freedom of expression is fundamental, how can you ensure the freedom of expression and the respect of critical voices?"

SOUNDBITE (German), Barbara LOCHBIHLER (Greens/EFA, DE), "It is very positive that over a million Libyans are finding protection in your country, and even work. So my question to you is, is Tunisia receiving sufficient support to handle this supplementary burden on your health care and educational systems?"

SOUNDBITE (French), Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR), "The reasons that provoked the Tunisian revolution at the end of 2010 are still there. In the last weeks there have been at least a hundred cases of social conflict, especially in the defavoured regions where it all started. Especially the region of Gafsa, where the problems are still not solved. There is a lot of despair among the youth, and a particular effort is needed."

SOUNDBITE (French), Habib ESSID, Prime Minister of Tunisia, "The position of Tunisia regarding the EU action against these successive waves of migration is clear. Like we have done with Italy. To intervene militarily against a problem which can be handled by way of action in development or prevention, is the formula we have adopted. We are fundamentally against any military action."