1.5. Relations with the EU/Representation at EU level

Relations between Tunisia and the European Union are governed by the Euro-Mediterranean agreement establishing an association between the EU and the Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part. It is clear from that agreement that the Tunisian State is the only party vis-à-vis the European Union, excluding any other local or regional authorities of Tunisia[1]. The regions and local authorities do not have any relationship with the European Union.

Under Article 140 of the new 2014 Constitution "local authorities may also build foreign relations for partnership and decentralised cooperation".

The Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, adopted an opinion on the final draft of the Tunisian Constitution. Tunisia has been a full member of the Venice Commission since 2010. According to the Venice Commission, Chapter VII of the Constitution, on local government, "lays down the foundations for the recognition and protection of local self-government, which is a positive step". It also notes that "the principle of local self-government is therefore implicitly guaranteed, which is to be welcomed"[2].
The Venice Commission also welcomes the general rule set out in Article 135 of the Constitution on the financing of local authorities whereby the "resources shall be consistent with the powers granted to them by law". But the same Article also states that "the financial arrangements governing local authorities shall be specified by law" and in its opinion the Venice Commission stresses that this law must be adopted as soon as possible, "as local authorities will not be genuinely independent until this law has been passed".



[1] Article 92 of the association agreement: "For the purposes of this Agreement, "Parties" shall mean, on the one hand, the Community or the Member States, or the Community and its Member States, in accordance with their respective powers, and, on the other hand, Tunisia. The text is available here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:21998A0330(01):EN:NOT (EN) (consulted on 24 September 2013).

[2] Opinion on the final draft Constitution of the Republic of Tunisia, adopted by the Venice Commission at its 96th plenary session, October 2013.​