Brussels, 12/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - Algeria is seeking to make a real engagement in exploratory discussions towards developing an action plan as part of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP). This announcement was made by the Algerian delegate minister for North African and African affairs, Abdelkader Messahel, to EU Commissioner Stefan Füle during their meeting on Thursday 8 December.
Füle underlined that the two men had agreed that “Algeria and the EU have a mutual interest in stepping up their cooperation to tackle new challenges affecting instability, poverty and arms proliferation in the Sahel region”. Füle and Messahel stressed the “importance of stepping up and deepening regional integration” for the Maghreb and Sahel. They also welcomed the recent announcements made involving the revival of the “Union of the Arab Maghreb”. (CG/transl.fl)