Brussels [Belgium], September 15: Tunisia denied five EU lawmakers entry to the country, the European Parliament confirmed on Thursday, amid ongoing debate about a migration-related aid deal signed this summer.
In July, Brussels offered Tunis about $1.07bn worth of aid in the controversial deal partly aimed at combatting irregular migration to the EU, despite allegations of human rights abuses by the Tunisian government.
The agreement, which comes with conditions that Tunisia has yet to meet, is meant as an incentive for Tunisia to curb departures of migrants trying to reach the EU by sea.
The parliamentarians planned to meet with civil society representatives in Tunis from Thursday to Saturday, after requests for meetings with the government were rejected, said DietmarKoster, a German Social-democrat and member of the delegation.
The aim of the trip was to gather information following concerns "about political backsliding in Tunisia on democratic standards and human rights," a press release said.
"This is an unprecedented scandal," said Koster, who linked Tunisia's refusal to the earlier criticism of the Tunisian leadership by members of the delegation.
The five German and French lawmakers from different political grounds condemned the decision in a joint statement, saying they are "ready for and insist on a dialogue" with Tunisia.
Source: Qatar Tribune