Tunisian President Kais Saied summoned European Union (EU) ambassador Giuseppe Perrone on Wednesday to protest his meeting with Noureddine Taboubi, head of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT).

The presidency described the meeting as a “failure to adhere to diplomatic protocols” and an act “outside the official channels.”

The meeting, held on Monday, included praise for the UGTT’s historical role in Tunisia’s 2015 political transition and highlighted continued EU cooperation with Tunisian civil society.

Civil Society tensions in Tunisia

The summoning comes amid ongoing tensions between Saied’s government and civil society organizations. Several rights groups and media outlets, including Democratic Women, Nawaat Journalists, and the Economic and Social Forum, have been suspended. Amnesty International has warned that measures against NGOs have reached “critical levels,” citing arrests, asset freezes, banking restrictions, and suspensions affecting 14 organizations.

The UGTT, with around one million members, has not faced official sanctions but has raised concerns over trade union rights and the suspension of agreements with authorities. This month, the union threatened a nationwide strike “in defence of trade union rights,” reflecting broader economic and political pressures.

Tunisia’s relations with the EU, its largest trading partner and a long-standing ally, have cooled since Saied assumed power in 2021. The EU has not yet publicly responded to the ambassador’s summoning.

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