Brussels, 18/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini was visiting Algiers on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September and used the occasion to reaffirm their joint determination to raise EU-Algeria relations to the level of ambition claimed. According to Algeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra, the intention is “to densify” this cooperation. On the European side, “constructive” discussions are spoken about.
Not everything, however, seems to be characterised by concurrence. Local Algerian press reports last minute differences in opinion which resulted in the signature of a European assistance agreement to Algerian media being cancelled. The differences in political assessment are not really anything new. Indeed, at every occasion Algiers invokes its sovereign right and its rejection of any interference in its domestic political affairs. According to a European source, there is concern not to dramatise this “failure”. The agreement will be signed later, as the Algerian party was simply not ready to do it, Brussels sources state. Two other financing agreements were signed without incident - one for €8 million to support judicial reform, and the other for €12 million to support reform in the employment sector.
Other areas of disagreement could be seen in the outlook for economic cooperation. Algiers believes that the association agreement should have its advantages readjusted, and has managed to obtain a review of the agreement (see EUROPE 11391). It was agreed that discussions during Mogherini's visit would be detailed and orderly. “The process of reviewing the association agreement will be launched in the coming weeks”, Mogherini said during a joint press conference with Lamamra, as reported by Algerian news agency APS. “The Algerian-requested process of assessment certainly does not aim at questioning the agreement but, on the contrary, at using it fully for a positive interpretation of its arrangements enabling cooperation links to be readjusted”, says a source close to the issue, quoted by APS. APS states that in view of this “joint objective assessment of implementation of the association agreement”, an “argument developed by an inter-ministerial working group” has been sent “explaining the Algerian request and its motivations”. An “inter-sectoral committee” has been tasked with “very quickly identifying the provisional urgent measures to be taken in the framework of respecting the very spirit of the association agreement, especially to slow down the tax losses stemming from the new scheme of dismantling tariffs that came into force on 1 September 2015, which involves 400 tariff sub-headings”, APS states.
Mogherini was hosted by Algeria's Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. She then told press: “We have had a good exchange of viewpoints and I think that this is a good way to conclude a visit that I consider very positive and very useful for relaunching the partnership”. Her visit was also about the situation in the neighbouring countries.
Algeria and the EU affirmed during Mogherini's visit that they share the “same vision” on Libya, where the people are “called upon to find stability again”, Mogherini said on Thursday. She also spoke about the issue of refugees flows to Europe. “We can't find a solution to the migration crisis overnight, but we will house them”, she said, adding that what the EU “is called up to do is to develop a common approach to manage the crises that exist around us, especially in Africa, and to stimulate economic and social development”.
“It's in this framework that a summit will be held in Malta in November to see with our partners in Africa and the Middle East how sustainable development can be accelerated”, Mogherini said, according to the same source. (Fathi B'Chir)