Mogherini in Algeria to discuss combating terrorism and illegal immigration

EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini arrived in Algeria on Monday to discuss security, counter-terrorism, and illegal immigration issues. Mogherini was received at the Houari Boumediene Airport in the capital by Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel, Algerian state radio reported.

Upon her arrival, Mogherini pointed out that “the European Union and Algeria are natural partners when the issue is related to the high-level dialogue on regional security and the fight against terrorism.” She added that she would discuss with Messahel “several common priority topics,” such as Libya and the east region as well as bilateral cooperation in the economic, scientific and energy fields, according to the same source.

She said that the two-day conference on Libya, scheduled to be held in the Italian city of Palermo later Monday is “an opportunity to coordinate activities and work between the two sides.”

On Sunday, a statement issued by the Algerian Foreign Ministry said that the visit comes within the framework of “holding the second session of the High-level Dialogue (HLD) on Cooperation in the fields of regional security and the fight against terrorism.” The first session was held in 2017 in Brussels.

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Mogherini is the head of this session, with Messahel, and according to the same source, the two sides will continue on this occasion “discussions on terrorist threats and their relations with organised transnational crime, and will discuss possible ways and means to deepen their cooperation in this field.”

The Foreign Ministry statement said that “They will also exchange views on recent developments of regional and international issues of common concern … The meeting will also be an opportunity for the two parties to explore the reality and prospects of their extensive and comprehensive bilateral relations, which are subject to the partnership agreement,” which was signed in 2003.

On Saturday, the European Union said in a statement that Mogherini would meet with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia during the visit to discuss the partnership between the two sides, especially in the trade and economy fields, as well as the immigration file.   In October 2017, the first session of the political dialogue between the two sides, chaired by Mogherini and Messahel, was held in Brussels. It was agreed that this meeting would be held periodically (each year).

“This dialogue is of great importance to the European Union,” Mogherini said at the meeting.  The head of European diplomacy described Algeria as “the main partner of the European Union, not only in the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Sahel (the Great African Sahara) but Africa as a whole.”

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