Etiquettes: Morocco Leaks, Algeria, European Union, EU, Antonio Panzeri, Western Sahara, Mustapha Ould Salma,
Rabat, October 14, 2010
To the attention of Mrs. Mbarka BOUAIDA
Co-Chair of the Morocco-European Union Parliamentary Joint Committee
I have the honor to inform you, below, of the status of EU-Algeria cooperation, which encountered tensions on several levels in 2010.
1. Association Council (June 2010)
The two parties held their 5th session of the Association Council in Luxembourg last June, chaired by Messrs. Mortinos and Medeleci.
The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs raised the issue of existing problems between Algeria and the EU.
Mr. Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, emphasized the EU’s desire to strengthen cooperation « beyond energy » and stated that « it is not enough to sign a treaty; structural reforms are needed. »
The European Commission assessed that Algeria particularly faces issues with achieving the objectives of the Association Agreement.
Some Algerian officials even support the idea of renegotiating this agreement. According to Algeria, the EU-Algeria Association Agreement was negotiated in 2002 under a context unfavorable to Algeria, marked by security instability. Algerians believe they can now renegotiate the terms of the Agreement, given the current circumstances (a financial crisis weakening EU member states).
That said, after the Association Council session, the Maghreb Delegation of the European Parliament (D-MAG), chaired by Mr. Panzeri, heard from the Algerian ambassador to the EU, Amar Bendjema, who spent much of his intervention refuting the impression that his country was seeking to renegotiate the association agreement with the EU.
Regarding migration, Algeria has shown little cooperation with the EU and even less with regional countries, particularly Morocco, especially regarding the fight against the migration of Sub-Saharan Africans.
Worse still, Algeria is firmly opposed to signing a ‘Readmission Agreement’ and insists on the freedom of movement for its citizens in Europe.
As for the UMA (Arab Maghreb Union), although Algeria has declared that Maghreb integration is a strategic option in its foreign policy, in practice, it remains the main obstacle to regional integration. (Since 2005, Algeria has insisted on linking the bilateral dialogue on Morocco-Algeria relations with the Western Sahara conflict. For the Algerian president, there will be no dialogue as long as the conflict persists.)
Following the 5th meeting of the Association Council, Medeleci stated that the EU aligns with Algeria’s position on the Western Sahara issue. « The European Union stated today (Tuesday) very clearly that regarding the Western Sahara issue, it shares the same position as Algeria, » Medeleci told Algeria Press Service (APS).
2. PEV and UpM
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated, on the sidelines of the EU-Algeria Association Council, its country’s refusal to integrate into the Neighborhood Policy.
Algeria advocates for a renewed, solidary, and balanced Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. It believes that the Union for the Mediterranean (UpM) should strengthen the achievements of the Barcelona Process, while learning from its shortcomings.
However, the struggle between Algeria’s ‘conservatives’ and proponents of opening up reveals that political and economic circles are not homogeneous on the PEV and UpM. The refusal to engage in the Neighborhood Policy partially explains the distance Algeria has taken from the UpM.
According to the European Parliament Delegation at the 9th Interparliamentary Meeting (February 2009), Algeria remains the most skeptical country regarding the Union for the Mediterranean.
Regarding human rights, both parties agreed to set up a forthcoming subcommittee on « Political Dialogue, Security, and Human Rights. » In this regard, Algeria does not seem in a hurry.
Algeria has said it advocates, alongside the EU, for the adoption of a moratorium on the death penalty, which it has respected since 1993.
As in every circumstance, to show its concern for human rights, the EU did not fail, during the 5th session of the Association Council, to encourage Algeria to protect the exercise of fundamental rights and also highlighted the issue of enforced disappearances.
For reference, the EU report (May 2010) on human rights worldwide touched on the conduct of the presidential elections in Algeria, without openly criticizing the constitutional changes that allowed Bouteflika to run for a third term.
The document also reminds that the state of emergency remains in effect and that there have been allegations of torture, secret detention centers, and enforced disappearances. It also emphasizes that the EU closely monitors the situation concerning freedom of religion and conscience. (EU parliamentarian Cristian Dan Preda (PPE, Romania) raised the issue of the number of missing persons, recalling the figure of 10,000 proposed by the collective of disappeared persons.)
3. 10th Interparliamentary Meeting DMAGH-Algerian Parliament (October 2010)
The state of emergency was brought up again during the 10th Interparliamentary Meeting.
Mrs. Heidi HAUTALA, Chair of the Subcommittee on « Human Rights, » stated in her intervention that « The state of emergency is an excuse to suppress civil liberties, » and added, « I call for an examination of this state of emergency when you consider that terrorism is no longer a threat. »
The European official also stated that family law in Algeria is discriminatory towards women.
This session once again revealed a new shift in the positions and attitudes of MEPs, who were prompted by the deteriorated human rights situation in Algeria.
Mr. Panzeri raised the case of Mustapha Selma Ould Sidi Mouloud and stated, « He officially raises this issue, » emphasizing that this person disappeared and was accused of treason simply for expressing an opinion. Addressing the Algerian MPs, he called for help « to take the necessary steps to resolve this issue and show your goodwill to cooperate with us. »
Following this, MEP Carmen Romero Lopez (Spain, S&D) raised the issue of the victims of the Polisario Front in Spain: « There were 300 victims; only frankness allows progress, » she told the Algerians.
The ‘Salafist and Arabizing’ education system in Algeria, which recruited mostly Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood teachers, was also criticized by MEP Malika Benarab-Attou (Greens/French of Algerian origin).
Finally, would it be feasible to discuss with the European side the possibility of working together to establish a friendship group with Morocco? On June 16, 2010, a friendship group with Algeria was created within the European Parliament.
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