WRITTEN QUESTION P-1827/00

by Raimon Obiols i Germà (PSE) to the Council

(5 June 2000)

Subject: Algeria-EU Association agreement

After a prolonged period, the negotiations between the EU and Algeria aimed at concluding an association agreement have entered a new phase. A new round of contacts has been launched both at a technical level, by the Commission, and at a political level, by the Council. On 12 May, a meeting at ministerial level was held by the Community troika in Lisbon chaired by the President-in-Office of the Council, Mr Jaime Gama, in order to consider the state of Euro-Algerian relations. The meeting was preceded by a meeting at diplomatic level.

The talks were meant to provide a new impetus to the political dialogue between the EU and Algeria, and keep up the pace of negotiations, culminating in the conclusion of an association agreement satisfactory to both parties.

In view of the talks with the Algerian authorities over the past few weeks:

- What are the Council's guidelines and priorities as regards the political dialogue and the negotiation of the Association Agreement with Algeria?

- In the Council's opinion, what is the most realistic timetable for developing and achieving the EU-Algeria Association Agreement?

Reply

(28 September 2000)

Since 1997, the Council has agreed to intensify political dialogue with Algeria at ministerial level, in Algiers as well as elsewhere, on the basis of the following guidelines: solidarity with the Algerian people, condemnation of all forms of terrorism and excessive violence, full respect for fundamental freedoms, human rights and democratic principles, support for political and economic reform and the negotiation of a new Euro-Mediterranean association agreement. The first meeting took place on 26 November 1997 under the Luxembourg Presidency, followed by meetings on 19 and 20 January 1998 in Algiers, 21 October 1998 in Vienna, 3 November 1999 in Algiers, and most recently on 12 May 2000 in Lisbon. The French Presidency is planning to organise a similar political dialogue meeting in the second half of this year.

In all its contacts with the Algerian authorities, the Council points out that the fight against terrorism must not serve as a pretext for human rights violations, and that any departure from this and any abuse should be resisted. It is also convinced of the need for dialogue between the Government and the opposition. At the last meeting in Lisbon on 12 May, the Presidency particularly stressed that the Council supported the attempt at national reconciliation led by President Bouteflika and encouraged the economic and social reform process and the promotion of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms. It expressed the EU's concern about reports of detentions, extrajudicial arrests, torture and the fate of disappeared persons, both from the Government and the opposition.

The Council welcomes the policy decision of the Algerian authorities to resume negotiations with a view to an association agreement. The second negotiating session was held on 14 April 2000, and included a general overview of the negotiations and significant progress as regards the chapter on economic cooperation. An informal session at technical level will be held on 11 July in Algiers, and should be followed by a formal session in Brussels this autumn. The Council hopes that these negotiations can quickly end in the finalisation of the association agreement with Algeria, and will encourage the other countries with which negotiations are under way, namely Syria and the Lebanon, to accelerate them.