(2004/C 88 E/0134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3013/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject:   The case of the Tunisian journalist Néziha Rejiba

On 25 September 2003 the Tunisian customs authorities issued the Tunisian journalist Néziha Rejiba with a summons because she had given a young Tunisian man EUR 170 in cash, an offence punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a fine. However, the journalist has not broken the law, which sets a time-limit of one week for changing foreign currency into Tunisian dinars.

Néziha Rejiba, who has published articles on the Internet denouncing violations of human rights committed by the Tunisian authorities, writes for the on-line magazine Kalima (www.kalima.com), which has been censored in Tunisia since it was first published in October 2000. For the last three years she has been subjected to physical aggression and been continually harassed by the Tunisian police, her home is under surveillance and her telephone is monitored or (as at present) cut off.

Has the Commission taken official steps to ask the Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to clarify the situation? What response has it received?

What steps will the Commission take to induce the Tunisian government to ensure that freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial are respected by the Tunisian authorities in this case?

In view of the fact that the World Summit on the Information Society is due to be held in Tunis in November 2005, what steps will the Commission take to help to ensure an end to the constant and systematic violation of the freedom of expression of the Tunisian population?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2003)

The Commission is aware of the reports concerning Ms Rejiba referred to by the Honourable Member.

The Commission continues to follow the human rights situation in Tunisia closely. The Commission has always condemned violations of the principles of liberty democracy respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, principles upon which the Union is founded and which are common to the Member States as stated in Article 6 of the Treaty on the European Union.

In particular, the Commission considers freedom of expression as an area of fundamental importance to the development of democracy and a participatory society in all areas. In the framework of the MEDA budget line, the Commission in collaboration with a European centre for journalism is seeking to promote freedom of expression in Tunisia through a Media support programme aimed at journalist training. In order to support Tunisian efforts to strengthen the rule of law, the Commission also intends to launch a programme aimed at modernising the Tunisian judiciary, similar to those already launched for Algeria and Palestinian Territories.

As far as the World Summit on the Information Society is concerned, the Commission refers to its answers to the Honourable Member's Written Questions E-2554/03 (1) and E-2931/03 (2).

(1)  OJ C 65 E, 13.3.2004, p. 175.

(2)  OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 165.