Brussels, 20/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - A seminar was held in Algiers on 13 April to launch a Euro-Algerian “twinning” project. This project, which will run for 18 months and have a budget of €899,203, was designed in partnership with the Walloon Water Company, SWDE, and will help the Algérienne des Eaux (ADE) ensure the quality of the water distributed through its networks. The launch seminar of another twinning project to bring competition rules in Algeria up to standard took place in Algiers on 10 April. This 18-month project is also backed by the European Commission; it has a €870,000 budget and brings together the competition department of the Algerian Trade Ministry and similar departments in three EU member states - France, Italy and Germany. The aim is to bring up to standard and improve human resources in applying competition law and enhancing relations between the institutions in charge of competition, the Algerian press reports.
The EU says that the results of its activities, in particular in relation to twinning, have been “very positive” according to El-Moujahid. Other twinning projects have been carried out, one with the Taxation Directorate General and the National Traditional Crafts Agency (ANART). Another related to compliance and involved the Algerian Ministry for Industry, Small Business and the Promotion of Investment which asked for help in preparing agreements with the EU. Anfor (France) and Din and Bam (Germany) are the partners of the National Legal Metrology Office (ONML), the Algerian Certification Organisation (ALGERAC) and the Algerian Standards Institute (INOR). The ministry hopes this will harmonise technical legislation in Algerian industry with the acquis communautaire and meet the requirements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). (F.B./transl.rt)