Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-10-09-Speech-3-094"
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"en.20021009.7.3-094"2
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".
Madam President, the agreement signed by the European Union and Algeria marks the start of a new era in relations between us, and as Mr Brok quite rightly says, Algeria needs Europe and Europe needs Algeria within the context of Euro-Mediterranean collaboration. I should like to comment on three important points, in reply to the issues raised by Mr Brok. The first relates to the economic and political reforms which this agreement may help, the second relates to people's freedom of movement and the third relates to human rights.
On the first point, from a political point of view, Algeria decided in 1989 to adopt a constitution allowing a multi-party system. At present, democracy is not very well grounded, with political life segregated from civil society. Algeria has a duty to improve the situation and, more to the point, to ensure that there is a genuine division between the executive, legislative and judicial powers and transparent ballot counts. The political dialogue for which provision is made in the association agreement will provide a valuable framework for exchanging opinions and experience on this issue.
From an economic point of view, the association agreement allows for the gradual introduction of a single free trade area between Algeria and the European Union and challenges the Algerian Government to make the necessary reforms. As stressed in the resolution, it will have to start by satisfying certain basic needs of the people, such as running water, housing and medical care, otherwise it will clearly be unable to push ahead with other reforms because it will not have the consent of the people. Similarly, it needs to move and facilitate the move from the present planned economy to a free-market economy. This reform was overdue in Algeria anyway, because the suffocating planned economy had reached its limits. But now it has an opportunity, helped by this agreement, to adopt economic reforms which, basically, will rectify economic distortions and social inequalities.
The transition to a free-market economy will require consultations with business associations, with the trades union, and will need to focus on improving the legal framework for business and investment activities, reforming the banking system and stamping out corruption. The government recently approved a 7 billion dollar programme along these lines, which covers a great many of these issues. Again, the aid provided by the European Union under the MEDA programme will supplement this programme, given its three basic objectives of: one, strengthening the market economy; two, developing human resources, and three, consolidating the rule of law and satisfying certain requirements.
The second point concerns the free movement of persons. Under the agreement, the European Union is charged with finding ways of simplifying the visa procedure, as Mr Frederiksen mentioned, especially for the people involved in implementing it. This is a reasonable request on the Algerian side. The association agreement cannot concern itself merely with the setting up of a free trade zone; it must also make it easier for people to travel in both directions. I should point out that this endeavour relates to legal movements and in no way contradicts the Seville conclusions on stopping illegal immigration. The agreement signed is completely in line with the Seville guidelines making provision for specific collaboration on illegal immigration and the repatriation of illegal immigrants.
The third issue is the human rights clause, which is fundamental to the association procedure. The Commission acknowledges that Algeria has experienced tragic terrorist activity over the past ten years and we are giving the Algerian Government all the support we can in its fight against terrorism; but we also believe that the fight against terrorism is no excuse whatsoever for trampling over fundamental freedoms. The link to the Barcelona process implies a joint commitment to comply with certain basic democratic rules and values. Our main concern in this area is for those whose whereabouts are unknown; there are serious obstacles which need to be overcome both by their families and by non-governmental organisations, who frequently encounter delaying tactics on the part of the authorities. I think that the application of the human rights clause can be dealt with both adjectivally and substantially. Adjectivally through political dialogue, which needs to be predicated on human rights, and substantially, I would say, by the European Union by using a clearer and more substantive language with fewer evasions. One item on the agenda for political dialogue is the question of Kabylie. We are hoping to inaugurate a dialogue with representative agencies and we welcome the conciliatory approach taken recently on the question of the official recognition of Tamazight as a national language.
The European Parliament is willing, as it has already stated, to foster dialogue with the Algerian parliament and this will be vital to exchanges of information, common positions and the interests of both sides. Contrary to what is stated in the motion for a resolution, the importance of this is clearly stated in Article 99 of the agreement and the Commission will do its utmost to facilitate this sort of dialogue. On a more general note, the Commission wholeheartedly supports Parliament's approval of this association agreement, which must not under any circumstances be seen as a blank cheque for the Algerian Government; it is a way of encouraging it to continue with the political, economic and social reforms it has started, basically in order to better the lot of the Algerian people."@en1
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