POLICY BRIEF: 2026-09-17
⏱ 3 min read

Executive Summary

The European Union’s 2023 migration agreement with Tunisia underscores a growing reliance on non-democratic regimes for migration control. While the pact has reduced irregular arrivals, it has also normalized human rights violations, raising urgent questions about Europe’s ethical and geopolitical priorities.

The European Union’s migration policies have increasingly relied on externalizing border control to neighboring regions, particularly North Africa. This strategy, aimed at curbing irregular migration, has led to partnerships with countries like Tunisia, Libya, and Morocco. These agreements often involve financial incentives in exchange for stricter migration control measures, including the prevention of migrant departures to Europe.

In 2023, the EU signed a controversial migration pact with Tunisia, allocating €900 million to bolster its border security. This agreement came amidst Tunisia’s political shift under President Kais Saied, whose administration has been criticized for authoritarian tendencies and human rights violations. The pact reflects a broader trend in European migration policy: outsourcing border management to regimes with questionable democratic credentials, a strategy fraught with ethical and practical challenges.

Policy Motivations: Balancing Migration Control and Political Expediency
The EU’s reliance on Tunisia stems from its strategic location along the central Mediterranean migration route, a key corridor for irregular migration to Europe. By outsourcing border control, the EU aims to reduce asylum arrivals and alleviate domestic political pressures. However, this approach prioritizes short-term gains over long-term stability, as it fails to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, conflict, and climate change in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ethical Dilemmas: Human Rights vs. Realpolitik
The agreement has drawn sharp criticism for its ethical implications. Reports from NGOs and investigative journalists reveal that Tunisian authorities, funded by the EU, have engaged in violent practices, including abandoning migrants in the desert without food or water. Such actions not only contravene international human rights norms but also tarnish the EU’s global image as a defender of human dignity and rule of law.

Geopolitical Risks: Dependency on Authoritarian Regimes
By aligning with Tunisia, the EU risks legitimizing an increasingly authoritarian regime. President Saied’s government has been accused of suppressing dissent, targeting opposition figures, and undermining judicial independence. This dependency on Tunisia—and similar regimes—compromises the EU’s ability to advocate for democratic values and human rights, weakening its geopolitical standing.

Impact on Migrants

The EU-Tunisia migration agreement highlights the precarious balance between managing migration and upholding ethical standards. While the pact may offer short-term relief from irregular arrivals, its long-term consequences—both humanitarian and geopolitical—demand a reevaluation of Europe’s approach. A sustainable migration policy must prioritize human rights, address root causes, and reduce dependency on authoritarian regimes.