Brussels, 15/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of his trip to the Maghreb, Romano Prodi signed last week in Algiers, with Abdelaziz Belkhaden, Algerian Foreign Minister, three agreements for a total of EUR 30 million. The first grants EUR 17 million to reform of the postal and telecommunications sector (PTT), and aims to strengthen the autonomy and effectiveness of the PTT regulation authority, and to assist the PTT in new missions. Part of the financial allocation will be devoted to the development of the information society. Furthermore, EUR 5 million will be used to strengthen the role of the private independent press with the setting in place of a statute for journalists, a collective agreement and a charter of ethics and the professional code. The programme, to be carried out in partnership with the national trade union of journalists (SNJ), also provides for strengthening of trade union solidarity. Finally, EUR 8 million will be earmarked for a programme that will enhance the professional level of Algerian security agents mainly regarding human rights and individual freedoms in the exercise of their duties.