Brussels, 12/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 6 October, Algeria reiterated its request for a review of its association agreement with the European Union.
Algeria's EU association agreement entered into force in September 2005 and the Algerian government believes it has evolved unevenly. The agreement was discussed again last week by the Algerian government, as part of a report presented by Algeria's minister for foreign affairs. “Our country believes it is necessary to proceed to an assessment of [the agreement's] economic and financial chapter, particularly as the doubling of our imports from the European area has not been accompanied by the expected increase in European investment in Algeria”, an official press release states. “The fall in our country's external revenue by nearly half” makes this assessment all the more necessary, the press release adds. The assessment will be made “together with the EU, in line with the arrangements of the association agreement”, the Algerian government states, saying that the EU was “officially notified” of this request for a review when High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini recently visited the country. According to Algiers, the EU has already given its approval, “thus paving the way for discussions”. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)