Algiers, 18/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - Algeria and the EU hope to conclude an association agreement by the autumn, it was affirmed by Peter Zangl, the head of the European delegation taking part at the 9th round of talks from 14 to 16 May in Algiers. His remarks were reported in the Algerian press. Mr Zangl assures that "both parties are determined to move forward in a resolute manner to find solutions". This optimism reflects that expressed end April by President Bouteflika, who said he hoped the agreement would be signed by the end of the year. Mr Zangl, who is (for a few more days yet) the director responsible for the Mediterranean policy at the Commission, pointed out that the next round would begin early June in Brussels and would be followed by at least two sessions before the summer. Negotiations are "progressing" and are "on the right road for identifying the political problems that need to be resolved", he said.
The two delegations, which limited their discussions in Algiers to specific themes, decided to accelerate meetings to tackle unresolved issues (mainly visas, justice and home affairs). In particular, they began discussions on the services sector, which allowed identification of the mutual, eventual concessions to be made, according to indications from the head of the Algerian delegation, Mr Benatallah, who specified that the trade chapter in particular has still to be discussed ("the choice morsel", he said). Algeria seems to be reticent about opening its market up to European competition as quickly as its Maghreb neighbours, given the weakness of its trade flows (other than for hydrocarbons) and the vulnerability of its enterprises.