Brussels, 18/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - Members of the EP Delegation for relations with the Maghreb, chaired by Spanish Socialist Raimon Obiols, will be in Algiers from Friday to Monday next to be briefed, above all, on the state of progress in talks on an association agreement (see above). The EP is in favour of accelerating the talks so that Algeria does not remain on the sidelines of developments under way in global Euro-Maghreb relations and relations between countries of this region of the Mediterranena. Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt recently declared their firm intention to create a "horizontal" free trade area (see EUROPE of 12 May, p.9), while Algeria is not signatory to this joint declaration.
It should also be question, during this working visit undertaken within the context of regular inter-parliamentary contacts, of control of migratory flows and of all related aspects (freedom of movement, visas, etc.). The most sensitive point will be that of Algeria's internal situation that the EP is following with great concern (see p.5 on the subject of the resolution adopted Thursday).