Brussels, 23/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Algerian press claims that the EU and Algeria could sign a strategic agreement in the energy domain this September “at the latest” - which could be concluded just when needed. This report quotes the deputy director-general at the European Commission responsible for energy and transport, Fabrizio Barbaso, speaking on Thursday in Algeria: “Today we have reassuring information from the Algerian authorities… We expect a position to be given by Algeria in the next few weeks and we are optimistic that this could result in the signing of this agreement in June or July, by September 2011 by the latest”.
The Algerian press also points out that “Algeria sees the signing of such an agreement as being linked to the opening up of the European market, as well as involving the question of scrapping tariffs, investments, the free movement of persons and joining the WTO”. The EU is “continuing to demand preliminary conditions such as the lifting of trade barriers (according to the supplementary finance law of 2009, all foreign investors have to be accompanied by an Algerian partner holding a 51% stake) and conditions on the question of agricultural quotas. Above all, the EU is demanding respect for the stability and non-discrimination clauses. This seems to be where the crux of the disagreement lies”, explain media reports.
According to the same sources, Barbaso proposed “holding expert level meetings to take into account these concerns and see whether within the legal text there is a way of responding to these concerns”. Nonetheless, in addition to trade and economic questions, it should also be pointed out that the Algerians have demands with regard to the question of visas and the free movement of Algerians, issues that the EU intends to tackle “separately”.
Another subject dividing the two sides regards market access. Algeria has already requested the dismantling of tariff barriers to be postponed from 2017 to 2020, with a view to reciprocal opening up. Algeria is also seeking to negotiate a negative list for 1,740 industrial products. This approach was explained by Algerian Trade Minister Benbada, who said that it “will help to develop an additional transition phase and enable our companies to prepare for the subsequent opening up”. The Algerians have misgivings about complete reciprocity and also criticised the low level of European investment, justified by the EU as being caused by restrictions contained in Algerian legislation. (F.B./transl.fl)