Brussels, 18/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - Things could get really heated between Algeria and the EU, if the remarks made by the Algerian Minister for foreign affairs are taken into account. He criticised the recent opinions expressed about the Algerian domestic situation by the president of the Delegation for Relations with Maghreb Countries, Italian Socialist MEP, Pier-Antonio Panzeri. The opinions expressed were followed by an appeal to reason, rather than any direct threats.
On Monday 15 December, the minister for foreign affairs launched an attack, without naming any names, on the, “Eurocrats behaving like autocrats”. He added that the EU has “extensive interests in Algeria but these interests should develop in a more balanced way. At the moment they are imbalanced in favour of the EU. This is an observation”.
The Algerian government does not, however, appear to wish to go further than this initial attack, so as not to undermine its efforts to establish closer relations with the EU, which it began in 2011. The efforts made have created hope both in Algeria and in the EU that cooperation can be developed in the energy field as well as in an economic opening up and more freedom of enterprise. In his statement, Panzeri said that “Algeria is in need of a real renovation process, which is not currently the case”. He was quoted at length in the newspaper, L'Expression, despite the fact that the ideas expressed were done so in confidence. The MEP informed Algerian journalists on an information visit to the European Parliament, in confidence, that “the lack of a process for concrete reforms could create a void that could be occupied by extremist tendencies. Algeria began its democratisation process in the 1990s and has suffered the effects of terrorism, it is now time that it breaks free from this past”.
In itself, the analysis does not appear that far removed from several others made in Algeria. The damage done, however, occurs because it comes just when the debate is intensifying on the political choices of the country of who takes over as head of state and what will happen to the country's energy future, given that 98% of its resources are energy based. It is also suffering from the sharp fall in hydrocarbon prices, in addition to the lack of regional security in Libya, the Sahel and neighbouring Tunisia.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ramtane Lamamra, pointed out that his country had “excellent relations with the EU, its institutions and the member states. We have meetings and a relationship with the Brussels-based techno-structure, where a new leadership has been elected, as well as the president of the Council, Commission and therefore, a certain number of officials who know Algeria”. The minister for foreign affairs added, however, that within the Brussels techno-structure, there were “Eurocrats behaving like autocrats”.
Algerian criticism appears to be personalising the crisis and is targeting Panzeri, who has almost been accused of being in the pay of Morocco and systematically opposing Algeria. One Algerian diplomatic source informed EUROPE that this “MEP, who has an important job, distinguishes himself by an absence of neutrality, impartiality and balance with regard to issues affecting the Maghreb in general and relations with Algeria in particular. This subjective position taken can undoubtedly be explained by his strong and proven connections with a certain country in the region” this is a reference to the fact that he was recently decorated by King Mohamed VI. Panzeri is the copresident of the Joint EP-Moroccan Assembly Committee. (FB)