On Monday 14 May, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Algeria's Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdelkader Messahel called for relations between the EU and Algeria to be strengthened.
"This is a partnership that we want to deepen", Messahel stated at the end of the 11th EU-Algeria Association Council, adding that the Mediterranean was not a zone of division but of cooperation enhancement. "Over the course of last year, our trade and dialogue was stepped up, both on bilateral and regional issues. Our partnership is making progress and being consolidated", Mogherini added.
As evidence of this cooperation, the two parties signed several agreements at the Association Council, including the 2018-2020 single support framework which sets out priorities for bilateral financial and technical cooperation, including support for reforms and economic diversification. "Concretely, we plan on support actions for improvement of the business climate and of the framework in which small and medium-sized enterprises operate", Mogherini stated. Another example of the cooperation is the signature of the financing agreement of the support programme to the agriculture sector, including in water management, the agri-food industry and the fight against agricultural pollution. This inter-sectoral programme is to strengthen certain strategic sectors for food security in Algeria and those with real export potential, according to the press release from the Association Council.
According to Mogherini, the Europeans and Algerians also reaffirmed that all measures relating to their trade must be taken in respect of the association agreement. The Europeans criticise the current restrictions on imports that have been decided by Algeria (see EUROPE 12009). "It is planned that the bilateral discussions started to this effect should be finalised as quickly as possible and, if possible, before the end of the year", she said, while Messahel said he was sure the ongoing efforts would result in better understanding.
The EU and Algeria furthermore affirmed their resolve to boost their high level dialogue on energy, and hailed the launch of cooperation in the field of civil protection and major risk management, and the strengthening of dialogue on migration. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)