Brussels, 28/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - At the beginning of the week, Algeria and the EU both took part in a conference in Algiers to review their cooperation - the results of which have been described as “mixed”. The European Commission was represented by Michael Köhler, the director for neighbourhood policy, and Algeria was represented by Mokrani Ali, the director for cooperation with the EU at the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mokrani recalled that the two parties were due to review the timetable for dismantling tariffs, at Algeria's request.
During their discussions, which were reported on by media including Algeria's official news agency, Mokrani stated that the goal of the reorganisation was to “enable the recovery of national production and to correct somewhat the continuously growing imbalances that characterise our trade, as well as to raise the European partnership's awareness of the need for substantial accompaniment in bringing the Algerian economy up to the level”. Mokrani also spoke of the neighbourhood policy and said that Algeria was committed to exploratory discussions with the EU with a view to concluding an action plan.
Algeria also hopes, said Mokrani, for “improvement of the business climate, amid the measures taken by the government”. The first Algeria-European Union forum will take place next June.
Köhler did not believe that the potential of the association agreement was being fully exploited. The partnership between Algeria and the EU is “solid and dynamic”, he said, as quoted by media. (FB)