Overview

• The European Commission’s proposal now classifies Tunisia as a ‘safe third country’, enabling deportations of rejected asylum seekers to its territory.
• Brussels and Tunis formalized a memorandum exchanging financial assistance for border management in return for Tunisian cooperation on migrant returns.
• Human rights groups warn that Tunisia’s repressive regime routinely detains migrants arbitrarily and exposes them to torture and racist violence.
• Analysts argue that externalizing migration control merely shifts EU responsibilities abroad without demonstrably reducing irregular crossings.
• Some EU lawmakers call for more transparent funding and expanded legal migration pathways instead of relying on third-country expulsions.