Reopening Morocco-Algeria borders, an issue to settle within MU, diplomat

    Speaking at a work session on the assessment of the Union for the Mediterranean Summit, held on July 13 in Paris, Luis Planas described the reopening of the borders as "a major element for regional and sub-regional integration."

    Borders between the two North African countries have been closed since 1994 when Morocco imposed entry visas on Algerian nationals, following a terrorist attack in the kingdom that involved Algerians.

    On the importance of achieving regional and sub-regional integration, the Spanish diplomat noted that the Agadir Agreement - a Free Trade Agreement between Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan- is a "tangible example" of South-South cooperation.

    Echoing him, Deputy Foreign Minister, Latifa Akherbach, noted that "achieving sub-regional integration and especially a strong Maghreb union are at the very core of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership dynamic that was reviewed by the Union for the Mediterranean."
 
     Strengthening the North-South cooperation, as provided for by the Union for the Mediterranean, is related to consolidating South-South cooperation and achieving complementarity between several regional groups, the minister said.

    Spearheaded by France, the Union for the Mediterranean aims to bring the two shores of the Mediterranean closer together through the development of major regional projects meeting the populations' needs.

MAP