APS : MONDAY 14 MAY 2018
BRUSSELS- Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel has underlined, Monday in Brussels, the need to strengthen a “frank and open” dialogue between Algeria and the European Union, as part of a comprehensive partnership.
“I am pleased to reiterate invitation for European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom to visit my country, and also so that this frank and open dialogue would continue as part of a comprehensive partnership,” Messahel told a joint press conference held with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, at the end of the 11th Algeria-EU Association Council.
Messahel said that the meeting was an opportunity to explain to the European partner the context that forced the Algerian Government to take a series of “temporary measures” to reduce imports.
In this regard, the minister said that he was “convinced that this ongoing dialogue would help reaching better understanding and handling of the concerns of both parties.”
As regards the international and regional issues of common interest, the Foreign minister said that Algeria and the EU “share the same concerns and objectives in the region: working for the restoration of peace and stability in the region and assisting the stakeholders in the peace process in Mali and Libya to achieve their objectives.”
The Foreign minister also underlined the need for Algeria and the EU to continue their cooperation in the fight against terrorism and radicalization.
In this regard, Messahel announced the holding, in Algiers in October, of the second session of Algeria-EU High Level Informal Dialogue on security and counterterrorism.
This meeting will be preceded, in July, by a meeting of Algerian and European experts.
While reiterating Algeria’s commitment to energy cooperation with the EU, the minister announced the holding, in Algiers in November, of the third session of Algeria-EU Joint Energy Committee with a view to boosting the high level dialogue.
=European willingness to further boost Algeria-EU partnership=
For her part, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said to be pleased with the progress made, in almost all fields, in Algeria-EU partnership, underlining the shared willingness to further strengthen cooperation.
“Over the past year, our cooperation and our dialogue have intensified on bilateral and regional issues. Our partnership is progressing and has strengthened, in an open and frank spirit characterizing relationships between friends, and so between the EU and Algeria,” she said.
According to Mogherini, the EU remains committed to providing assistance to the Algerian authorities in its political and economic reforms.
