Hongaarse minister Martonyi pleit voor regionale samenwerking in Noord-Afrika (en)

“Recent events in the region demonstrate the urgency of boosting regional cooperation and integration,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs János Martonyi, referring to the Maghreb region, in the 6th Meeting of the EU-Algeria Association Council, in Luxemburg on 20 June 2011.

The Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs was representing the European Union at the Association Council meeting, under the authorisation of Catherine Ashton i. This year, it was chaired by Algeria, by Mr. Mourad Medelci, the country's Foreign Minister.

In the press conference following the meeting, János Martonyi reminded listeners that the events in the southern neighbourhood pose a significant challenge, both for Algeria and the Union; therefore, the meeting provided a good opportunity for discussing not only the details of the cooperation, but also the situation in Tunisia, Libya and other countries of the Maghreb region.

In response to a journalist's question, the Foreign Minister highlighted that in order to handle the situation in Libya, the EU is cooperating with organisations that play an active role in the region, including the African Union, the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the UN.

“The European Union has always supported every form of regional cooperation and integration,” he said. According to Mr. Martonyi, the cooperation evolving between Algeria and Morocco is a good sign, and he expressed his satisfaction that Maghreb countries are increasingly participating in resolving the concerns of the Sahel region, “Building on the experience of Eastern Central Europe, we especially believe that regional integration is always beneficial for the people and the economy. It opens up borders, in a physical and a symbolic sense of the term.”

Concerning the Sahel region, Martonyi said that the aim of the Union is the strengthening of it’s security in the short term, and in the long-term, the total elimination of the threat posed by Al Qaeda.

The meeting was also attended by Štefan Füle i. The Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, talked about the review of the European Neighbourhood policy in the press conference. “Based on that communication of the Commission that was released on 25 May, we are determined to propose to each of our partners a tailored EU approach based on each partner’s needs, ambitions and objectives,” he said. Mr. Medelci welcomed the new approach of the Commission, since in his opinion, the policy of the EU has been too rigid and every country has been treated the same way. He said: “The new Neighbourhood policy of the Union will accommodate pragmatism and the customised development of relationships."

Background

The Association Agreement between the European Union and Algeria has been effective since 2005, with the aim of establishing relationships between the Union and the North African country based on mutuality and partnership. Under the agreement, the two regions have conducted regular political dialogue with each other, cooperate on economic and financial matters, such as educational and employment issues, and also in the field of home affairs. In the latter case, the focus is on increasing the efficiency of border control and the combat against illegal migration.

The EU-Algeria Association Council provides the institutional background for the agreement, under which parties hold annual ministerial meetings.