THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND TUNISIAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND HOW IT CAN SUPPORT THE EMERGING DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION IN TRADE AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Abstract

In the two policy realms of economic liberalization and anti-corruption, this article investigates the extent to which the EU incorporates Tunisian civil society actors in bilateral political processes. It finds that, while the EU has made a significant commitment to more such interaction, there are still gaps between its discourses and practices. We see differences in both sectors and between countries. In Tunisia, civil society is considerably more actively involved in EU policymaking, thanks in part to the EU's adherence to several of the Tunisian government's red lines. Furthermore, when it comes to openness and anti-corruption, the EU is more inclined to involving civil society than when it comes to trade. This may be explained, at least in part, by the fact that EU interests on the former are better aligned with those of civil society than on the latter.