Brussels, 07/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - A representative of the European External Action Service (EEAS) declared on Thursday 6 June that “Algeria does not need money but rather European expertise”.
The same day, in Brussels, the European parliamentary delegation for cooperation with the Maghreb organised a hearing on relations with Algeria and the internal political situation there. Among those attending were Manuela Riccio, the head of the relevant Algerian office, on behalf of the EEAS, and Nassera Dutour, the vice-president of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN).
Taking stock of the situation, Riccio expressed the EU's satisfaction at the way in which relations have been intensified, not only between institutions but with civil society and the commitment shown by both sides to hold substantial political dialogue. Since 2011, Algiers has begun to noticeably close the gap between itself and the EU. This has resulted in its agreeing to negotiate an action plan as part of neighbourhood policy (one session has already taken place) and to open in-depth dialogue on sector-specific cooperation (16 May in Algiers). This is a positive trend, she said, in a regional context that requires opening up to civil society and stepping up counter-terrorism vigilance. Algeria has a painful past and feels threatened today in the neighbouring Sahel-Sahara region.
In this spirit and in order to encourage the reform process in Algeria, support of €20 million was granted in 2012 to the “Spring” programme, with a further €10 million allocated to supporting governance and economic diversification. However, Riccio explained in response to the addresses made by the parliamentarians present (Malika Ben Arab-Attou, Greens/EFA, France; and Carmen Romero and Inès Ayala Sender, S&D Group, Spain), the “Spring” funding will not be renewed due to the budgetary situation in Europe and the results of the first instalment that, it is felt, have not lived up to expectations. At this point, she underlined that Algeria does not need the money but does need European know-how.
“We are putting small patches on wide-open wounds”, took up Ben Arab-Attou, calling for a firmer European stance and for direct involvement by MEPs in the political dialogue initiated with Algeria. Romero, also, said the EP should have its word in the way Euro-Algerian political relations are steered. Ayala Sender preferred a cautious approach in order to avoid “confusion”.
Dutour believes the people have an obvious wish to bring about change. There is agitation in the streets and insecurity in the southern regions of the country. She disputed the fact that European financial support could go to the civil society given “the way in which the country is governed”. However, she takes the view that, in the new legislation, there are “positive texts” - perhaps not in all areas, though, as the EU itself acknowledges by not renewing its “Spring” support.
“Algeria should give Europe €20 million” for it to close its eyes, Dutour went on to say, pointing a finger of blame at new laws on the press and on associations that she considers dangerous. She would be more in favour of no reform at all rather than those reforms. “We are suffocating” in a country that “is no longer governed” and which for the past two years “has been without a president”. “The achievements of 1988 (first “Spring” in the region) have been eliminated” and the terrorists, she says, have the upper hand and deploy their propaganda throughout the country with nothing to prevent them. “We are not asking you to intervene as in Libya but to go and listen to the population. The delegations that come and see the associations meet us only a short while as their agendas are very full”, Dutour said, concluding: “Do not wait till it is too late as in Tunisia and in Egypt”. (FB/transl.jl)