Perceptions from the South

This chapter explores migration in the Mediterranean from the Global South perspective, focusing on Tunisia’s expectations and policies in the 1970s. By examining European and Tunisian archives, the study links migration to Tunisia’s socioeconomic needs, highlighting the complexities in Tunisian-EEC relations. Migration policy emerged as a key issue, driven by President Bourguiba’s efforts to address unemployment and improve the living conditions of Tunisians in Europe. While the EEC’s restrictive stance limited migration, it incorporated social cooperation in the 1976 agreement under its Global Mediterranean Policy. However, the agreement’s modest outcomes reflected Europe’s shift towards immigration control. This chapter contributes to understanding the divergence between Tunisian aspirations and EEC strategies in migration governance.