EU funding and state-sponsored human trafficking in Tunisia

Question for written answer E-000583/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Ilaria Salis (The Left), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Estrella Galán (The Left), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE) Subject: EU funding and state-sponsored human trafficking in Tunisia Recent reports, including the RRX State Trafficking Report1 (presented at Parliament on 29 January 2025) and a communication from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (AL TUN 6/2024)2, suggest that Tunisian state authorities may be involved in human trafficking. Findings indicate that Tunisian security forces have allegedly expelled sub-Saharan migrants to the Libyan border, where they may have been handed over to armed groups in exchange for money. The OHCHR has informed Italy, Libya, Algeria and EU representatives3, yet the EU is continuing to fund Tunisia’s border enforcement and ‘search-and-rescue’ efforts. Reports suggest EU-backed units may be involved in illegal pushbacks at sea, raising concerns about potential state-sponsored trafficking. 1. What safeguards are in place to prevent EU funds from supporting Tunisian authorities involved in human trafficking and rights abuses? 2. Is the Commission investigating Tunisia’s role in state-sponsored trafficking, and will it consider suspending funding or reassessing the EU-Tunisia agreement? 3. Given the vulnerability of the...