FOR A EURO-MAGHREB
CHARTER ON MIGRATION
In 1989, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali launched
his call for the conclusion of a Euro-Maghreb charter on
migration, in view of the considerable number of emigrants,
students, workers, competences and businessmen, from Tunisia
and other Maghreb countries, who are residing in Europe,
particularly in EU member states. Tunisia alone has some
794,000 emigrants, 84% of whom reside in Europe.
President Ben Ali explained to all Tunisia's friends
and partners in the Arab Maghreb Union that migration between
Europe and Maghreb countries is a very old phenomenon that
is at the origin of a process of civilizational exchange
which has contributed to the establishment of deep-rooted
relations of solidarity and neighborhood between the two
shores of the Mediterranean.
President Ben Ali's initiative rests upon the principle
that migration is a factor of enrichment and cooperation
between the Maghreb and European groupings and that this
phenomenon cannot be held in check or contained just by
closing borders.
President Ben Ali considers legitimate and understandable
Europe's security concerns and apprehension as to the repercussions
of migration on the employment/unemployment situation as
well as on the other areas of daily life, particularly the
protection of fundamental liberties and the respect of dignity
and human rights in host countries.
President Ben Ali's initiative comprised solutions that
are within the reach of all the concerned parties. These
include:
Further reinforcing commercial exchanges and the flow
of capitals between the Maghreb and Europe, in such a
way as to serve the interests of both parties, to safeguard
human and social balances, and to preserve social peace
and security in the two regional groupings.
Stepping up efforts to ensure comprehensive development
for the entire Mediterranean region, based on the interdependence
of interests and benefits.
Respecting and scrupulously implementing the agreements
concluded between the Maghreb and Europe in the fields
of employment, social security and the free movement of
persons, while working to enlarge the scope of these agreements
to cover all Maghreb countries having communities established
in Europe.
Further consolidating development in Maghreb countries
in order to increase the number of jobs created, to intensify
and diversify investments, and to ensure new outlets for
Maghreb products, by establishing a new mode of cooperation
based on labor division, in such a way as to facilitate
integration between the sectors of production and services,
and to help with economic and industrial restructuring
in the two regional groupings.
