A tragedy in the making

In turning a blind eye to the corruption, nepotism and human rights violations of North African governments, the EU should share some of the blame for the violence that erupted in 2011 in Tunisia and Algeria, argues Belgian journalist Baudouin Loos.

• Primary Source

El País, 14.1.11: Give Ben Ali the Lukashenko treatment (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/463131-give-ben-ali-lukashenko-treatment

EEAS: Republic of Tunisia http://www.eeas.europa.eu/tunisia/index_en.htm

EEAS: Press Release, 14.1.11: Catherine Ashton, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, and European Commissioner for Enlargement Štefan Füle made today the following statement: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/118865.pdf

EUObserver, 14.1.11: Mediterranean EU states block stronger action on Tunisia http://euobserver.com/9/31644

BBC News, 14.1.11: Tunisia: President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali forced out http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12195025

ESO: Background information: Soaring food prices raise new crisis fears http://www.europeansources.info/record/soaring-food-prices-raise-new-crisis-fears/

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/11/12: Joint statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Stefan Füle on the situation in Tunisia http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/12&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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