https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230625/algeria-insists-on-revising-eu-association-agreement-1060152006.html
Algeria Insists on Revising EU Association Agreement
Algeria Insists on Revising EU Association Agreement
Sputnik Africa
The Association Agreement entered into force in 2005 and sets out a framework for EU-Algeria relations in all cooperation areas, including trade. The Algerian... 25.06.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-06-25T16:00+0200
2023-06-25T16:00+0200
2023-08-03T10:44+0200
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Algeria is "working on the revision and evaluation" of the Association Agreement with the European Union, said Minister of Trade and Export Promotion Tayeb Zitouni at the Algiers International Fair (FIA) earlier this week. According to the minister, certain Algerian products, in particular steel, don't benefit from the same exemptions on the European market as those granted by Algeria to the European side within the framework of this agreement. Against this background, Algiers once again urged that the document be reviewed, highlighting that it contains elements of asymmetry in favor of the EU. However, the minister didn't elaborate on the methodology and steps Algeria is going to undertake in a bid to achieve the desired result. The announcement comes as the country is set to increase the amount of non-hydrocarbon exports this year.Algiers has long been indicating that the Association Agreement with Brussels, which was signed in April 2002 and entered into force in September 2005, benefits the EU rather than the North African nation.Since the implementation of the agreement, cumulative Algerian exports to the EU, excluding hydrocarbons, have not reached $14 billion, while in the opposite direction (cumulative imports), the figure is $220 billion. The Algerian side considers this disadvantageous.Even though the agreement had already been reassessed in 2015 at the request of the Algerian government, the changes were considered insufficient. About two years ago, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune asked to review the provisions of this document "clause by clause" in accordance with a "win-win" approach.However, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, who visited Algiers last March, defended the agreement, noting that it is essential for the cooperation between the European Union and Algeria. He insisted that the agreement is sufficient both legally and institutionally to achieve the common objectives of both parties. Citing official figures, Borrell also pointed to the fact that European exports to Algeria had fallen by 45% since 2015 and that the trade balance was in favor of Algiers. The EU is Algeria's biggest trade partner and accounts for the majority of Algeria’s international trade – around 50% in 2021.
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Algeria Insists on Revising EU Association Agreement
16:00 25.06.2023 (Updated: 10:44 03.08.2023) The Association Agreement entered into force in 2005 and sets out a framework for EU-Algeria relations in all cooperation areas, including trade. The Algerian government has long been urging the European Union (EU) to reassess the document, calling it unbalanced and disadvantageous.
Algeria is "working on the revision and evaluation" of the Association Agreement with the European Union, said Minister of Trade and Export Promotion Tayeb Zitouni at the Algiers International Fair (FIA) earlier this week.
According to the minister, certain Algerian products, in particular steel, don't benefit from the same exemptions on the European market as those granted by Algeria to the European side within the framework of this agreement. Against this background, Algiers once again urged that the document be reviewed, highlighting that it contains elements of asymmetry in favor of the EU.
However, the minister didn't elaborate on the methodology and steps Algeria is going to undertake in a bid to achieve the desired result. The announcement comes as the country is set to increase the amount of
non-hydrocarbon exports this year.
Algiers has long been indicating that the Association Agreement with Brussels, which was signed in April 2002 and entered into force in September 2005,
benefits the EU rather than the North African nation.
Since the implementation of the agreement, cumulative Algerian exports to the EU, excluding hydrocarbons, have not reached $14 billion, while in the opposite direction (cumulative imports), the figure is $220 billion. The Algerian side considers this disadvantageous.
Even though the agreement had already been reassessed in 2015 at the request of the Algerian government, the changes were considered insufficient. About two years ago, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune asked to review the provisions of this document "clause by clause" in accordance with a
"win-win" approach.
However, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, who visited Algiers last March, defended the agreement, noting that it is
essential for the cooperation between the European Union and Algeria. He insisted that the agreement is sufficient both legally and institutionally to achieve the common objectives of both parties.
Citing official figures, Borrell also pointed to the fact that European exports to Algeria had fallen by 45% since 2015 and that the trade balance was in favor of Algiers. The EU is Algeria's biggest trade partner and accounts for the majority of Algeria’s international trade – around 50% in 2021.
