The South Programme II second bilateral Steering Committee with Tunisia was held on 22 November 2016 in Tunis. It saw the participation of a large number of representatives of the ministries, institutions and the academic sphere of Tunisia alongside the Council of Europe and the European Union.
The key themes of the South Programme II were discussed during the event, such as strengthening the independence, efficiency and quality of justice; consolidating a common legal area; supporting constitutional processes and the creation of new legal frameworks and democratic governance bodies; preventing corruption, money laundering and terrorism; and the partnership networks between the Council of Europe and Tunisia.
The various exchanges provided an opportunity to take stock of the activities implemented and progress achieved in Tunisia under the South Programme II, as well as the actions planned for 2017. The participants underlined the relevance of this initiative, which continues to support the democratic reforms, as well as its key role in establishing a legislative framework in line with European standards, creating progressively a common legal space, and supporting the establishment and consolidation of certain independent constitutional bodies.
The Steering Committee was followed on 23 November in Tunis by a meeting of the Council of Europe Working Group on Conventions to examine in greater detail the Council of Europe conventions and partial agreements of potential interest to Tunisia.
