Joint Proposal for a Council Decision on the Union position with regard to the adoption of the EU-Algeria Partnership Priorities

The revised European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) adopted in November 2015 establishes a new framework for bilateral relations with partner countries. Such relations should be specified in ‘Partnership Priorities’, which are a key point of reference with partner countries for agreeing on a limited set of targeted priorities for the coming years.

The consultations with the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria started in April 2016 when a preliminary draft version of the text was forwarded to the Algerian authorities before the visit of Commissioner Hahn to Algiers on 11 May. The EU and Algeria agreed that the ‘Partnership Priorities’ document would be the first agreed reference framework of the revised ENP, paving the way for enhanced cooperation. The document would also be a useful reference for the programming of EU assistance.

The Partnership Priorities reflect shared interests and are focused on areas where cooperation between the EU and Algeria is of mutual benefit. Respect for democratic principles and fundamental rights is an essential component of relations between the EU and Algeria. The shared goal of a common area of peace, prosperity and stability entails working together, particularly through co-ownership and differentiation, and taking stock of Algeria’s key role in the region.

While addressing the most urgent challenges, the EU and Algeria will continue to pursue the core objectives of their long-term partnership, namely working towards sustainable Algerian and regional stability and promoting sustained economic growth through strong state institutions and the diversification and greater competitiveness of the Algerian economy, by leveraging the potential of the Algerian private sector and civil society.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: JOIN(2017)007: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=JOIN:2017:007:FIN

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