Spain denounces Algeria for violating Association Agreement with EU

The Spanish government has denounced the maneuvers of the Algerian authorities who have proceeded to the unilateral blocking of trade operations in both directions and violated the association agreement with the European Union.

The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, confirmed on Thursday that there was indeed a blockade of trade operations by Algeria and that each time a case is detected, it is reported to the European Commission.

“Despite Algerian statements claiming that it was ill-intentioned fantasies on the part of Spain, there is indeed a blockage of trade operations,” said Albares told the Spanish national radio.

The European Commission requests explanations from Algeria whenever a trade operation is blocked, said the Spanish top diplomat, noting that trade relations between EU Member States and a third country are a competence of the European Commission, which closely monitors developments.

For her part, the Spanish Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Méndez, denounced before the Congress of Deputies “a virtually total blockage” of trade operations from Algeria, both in terms of imports and exports, except for energy products.

“We are witnessing, de facto, a blockage of trade flows in both directions, which, in our opinion, would constitute a violation of the Association Agreement with the European Union,” said Méndez before the Committee on Industry, Trade and Tourism.

According to the Spanish official, Algeria, which announced on June 8 the suspension of the Treaty of Friendship with Spain, in protest against the Spanish position supporting the autonomy plan for the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, “violates its trade agreement with the European Union, through the prohibition of trade flows, current payments and capital movements, and the discrimination of one EU member state over others”.

In addition, explained Méndez, the friendship treaty signed between Madrid and Algiers in 2002 is a “declaration of intent” on “the recognition of national sovereignty, and the prohibition of interference in internal political affairs…”. Besides, the agreement does not set the trade relations between the two countries, since this is a competence of the EU, she said.

The EU, through its High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, and the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, had expressed ”extreme concern” over the decision taken by Algeria to suspend the Treaty of Friendship and Neighborliness with Spain.

The Algerian unilateral act constitutes “a violation of the EU-Algeria Association Agreement”, the two senior European officials said, making it clear that the European Union will “oppose any type of coercive measures applied against a member state of the EU.”