Background The integration of Tunisia into the global economy as well as its accession into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the creation of a free trade zone with the European Union means that Tunisian enterprises have to take active steps in order to compete on a global scale. Tunisia is implementing a national action programme whose main objective is to upgrade the standards of Tunisian firms and make them more competitive in order to help them adapt to the exigencies of free trade. Incorporating environmental aspects into this programme can reinforce Tunisian enterprises' competitiveness and help them respond to the demands of the global market. Harmonising legislation and environmental norms between Tunisia and the European Union, particularly by putting into place EMAS and ISO 14001 standards constitutes a fundamental and necessary step in the process of free trade. Objectives The overall objective of this project is to contribute to the efforts and initiatives taken by the Tunisian authorities to raise standards of Tunisian firms by integrating environmental aspects into their management systems. The specific objectives are to: Assist Small and Medium Tunisian enterprises in their efforts to obtain EMAS and ISO 14001 certification; Reinforce national capacity to undertake environmental audits and in EMAS/ISO 14001 certification procedures; Obtain ISO 14001 and if possible EMAS certification for some 30 firms selected to take part in the pilot project; and Create a permanent national unit responsible for distributing all information related to EMAS/ISO 14001 certification and for providing support to interested enterprises. Results Not applicable until project is completed