MIGNEX: Migration Relevant Policies in Tunisia
February 2023
Given its location on the border with Libya and bordering the Mediterranean Sea – the ‘southern’ border of Europe – Tunisia is under a lot of pressure from the European Union (EU) to manage migration. Although international migration is very important for Tunisian society and economy, it has not been the main priority on the policy agenda for the Tunisian government. Moreover, the Jasmine Revolution and the Arab Spring has greatly influenced the migration and development policy in Tunisia.
Samuel Hall interviewed 14 policy experts between May and October 2021. as a part of our research with MIGNEX (Aligning Migration Management and the Migration–Development Nexus) a collaborative research effort to tackle the challenges of global migration with a long-term vision for better outcomes. Expert interviews highlighted that there is no official migration policy in Tunisia.
According to our research, a lack of economic opportunities, political instability, corruption, rising youth unemployment and the COVID-19 pandemic have hindered efforts to enhance development through migration.
The paper co-authored by Samuel Hall analyses migration management regulations and practices in Tunisia and identifies opportunities for improved approaches, drawing upon the data collected from the MIGNEX policy review.