Algeria takes further steps to gain access to Horizon 2020
The European Commission and Algeria have signed an agreement allowing for closer ties between the Union and the north African state.
At the ninth EU-Algeria Association Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday, the two parties signed a protocol to the association agreement allowing Algeria to participate in Euro-Mediterranean programmes. Algeria will consequently be able to take part in 20 EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs programme (COSME) and Creative Europe.
In comments on the meeting carried by the Kuwait News Agency, Ramtane Lamamra, Algeria’s Foreign Minister, said the talks had been progressive in several areas. Lamamra told the media: “The political will is there and faced with shared challenges and expectations of our societies, the geo-political situation that we are faced with we need to be in a position to come up with solutions”.
The Association Council was also an opportunity to reflect on common challenges. Discussions at the meeting included the latest developments on Libya, the Malian crisis and combatting terrorism and preventing radicalisation, as well as migration and energy co-operation.
Adding her thoughts, the chair of the meeting, Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said: “Algeria is playing a significant role to resolve the Libyan crisis. We are working together on that. Algeria’s role is very important as it is in Somalia. I hope these joint efforts would lead to positive results for the region.”
The EU and Algeria are linked by an association agreement that was signed in 2002 and which has been in force since 2005.
