Tunisia – Germany

Cooperation between the German Federal Bar and lawyers in Tunisia

In Tunisia, the German Federal Bar cooperates with the Ordre national des avocats de Tunisie (ONAT), the country’s national bar association. This cooperation was formalised and reaffirmed in 2025 by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

Since 2018, the German Federal Bar (BRAK) has cooperated with the Tunisian Bar Association (ONAT) on a basis of mutual trust and respect. The aim of this partnership is to strengthen the structures of the legal profession’s self-governance in Tunisia, to consolidate the independence of lawyers and to further develop professional standards. Of particular importance here is the exchange of experience on issues relating to digital infrastructure and electronic communication, such as how a secure legal mailbox for lawyers, analogous to the special electronic mailbox (beA) in Germany, can be introduced or optimised in Tunisia.

Another key area of cooperation is continuing professional development: the German Federal Bar supports its Tunisian colleagues by providing materials, specialist knowledge and expertise, for example regarding professional standards, client representation and legal ethics. In addition, joint efforts are being made to improve transparency and access to justice, particularly for vulnerable groups within the population.

This cooperation also helps to promote regional and international exchange — for example, on issues relating to the rule of law, human rights and the role of the legal profession in democratic societies.


Events 2026

  • 31 January to 1 February: Opening of the Legal Year of the ONAT in Tunis/Hammamet;
  • 10 January: event on the topic of ‘The Current Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Legal Profession’ in cooperation with the local branch of ONAT in Sousse.

Events 2025

  • 20 to 21 November: international conference on the topic of ‘Artificial Intelligence and the Protection of Personal Data’ in cooperation with the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation e.V. (IRZ) in Tunis;
  • 2 October: round table with the new president of the ONAT, Boubaker Ben Thabet, in cooperation with the IRZ in Tunis;
  • 9 to 10 July: regional conference on the topic of ‘Investment Protection: The Role of Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution’ in cooperation with the IRZ in Tunis;
  • 16 to 18 May: first international moot court competition in Monastir;
  • 23 April: signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the ONAT and the German Federal Bar in Berlin;
  • 21 to 22 February: Opening of the Legal Year in Tunis;
  • 24 to 25 January: event on the topic of ‘The beA* and the Future of the Legal Profession in Tunisia’ in cooperation of the local branch of the ONAT in Sousse.

*special electronic mailbox for lawyers in Germany
 

Events 2024

  • 19 to 20 December: event on the topic of ‘Access to Justice for Vulnerable Groups’ in cooperation with the IRZ in Tunis;
  • 5 to 6 November: event on the topic of alternative punishment in cooperation with the IRZ in Tunis;
  • 24 to 25 September: regional conference on the topic of ‘Improving the Investment Climate and Promoting Investment Incentives and Protection’ in cooperation with the IRZ in Tunis;
  • 10 to 11 June: two-day workshop on the topic of ‘ELT and Access to Justice for Vulnerable Groups’ in cooperation with the IRZ in Tunis;
  • 23 to 24 February: Opening of the Legal Year in Tunis.