Brussels, 07/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EP delegation for relations with the Maghreb and the UMA met in Brussels on Tuesday 6 October to discuss relations with the North African countries in the EuroMed zone and decide on its work programme for 2010. Before the meeting, the European Commission in the person of Manfredo Fanti, Head of Unit for Cooperation with North Africa, responding to MEPs' questions, described the huge differences in the situations of the countries in question and the relations with each country. He contrasted the relatively advanced levels of cooperation with Morocco and Tunisia with the slow implementation of the association agreement with Algeria, whereas at present, a framework agreement is being negotiated with Libya.
The EU's relations with Morocco and Tunisia are proceeding without any real problems towards the granting of “advanced status,” the details of which have almost been finalised with Morocco, which aims to stand out in the region due to the scale of cooperation with the EU. EU relations with Tunisia are expected to progress quite quickly with the hope, explained Fanti, of ironing out the remaining governance obstacles. On relations with Algeria, Fanti reported on delays in implementing the association agreement and on reservations expressed by the European Commission about recent investment measures decided upon by Algeria that discriminate against EU companies. The EU trade commissioner has sent Algeria a letter on the subject, drawing attention to the fact that the EU is trying to support reform in Algeria and promote investment in the country. The aim, Fanti said, was to help Algeria escape from its strong dependence on oil and gas exports, which gives the impression of huge imbalance in trade with the EU. He said there was potential in Algeria that was not being sufficiently exploited. The European Commission is also offering its help in breathing new life into Algeria's exports and to help the country join the World Trade Organisation. Manfredo Fanti pointed out that in Algeria, people think that the association agreement with the EU has not brought the expected benefits.
Answering a question from French Socialist MEP Kader Arif, Manfredo Fanti said that the question of human rights was an essential subject covered in the European Commission's political dialogue with all the countries of North Africa. Other issues on the agenda are immigration, Western Sahara and financial support for social and cultural cooperation.
Bernard Brunet, tasked with responsibility for the negotiations with Libya, and also speaking on behalf of the European Commission, briefed the MEPs on the talks. The negotiations over a framework agreement are expected to start up again in early November 2009 and should lead to as constructive cooperation as possible based on mutual commitments, explained Brunet, along with aid for the planned reform process in Libya, which at present is rather on the margins of the EuroMed area. His colleague at DG Development, Bruno Gatta, described the relations with Mauritania (on hold at the moment since the recent coup d'état), a country which is in-between EuroMed cooperation and the Cotonou Agreement (EU-ACP) (F.B./transl.fl)