The European Comission close ranks with Spain and threaten to adopt retaliation against Algeria if the country does not stop applying “coercive measures & rdquor; against Spain. It is the warning that the foreign minister has started this Friday, Jose Manuel Albaresto the vice president of the Community Executive, Valdis Dombrovskisduring a whirlwind trip to brussels to analyze the impact of the decision of the Government of Algiers to suspend the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighborly Relations with Spain and freeze trade relations.
“The decision adopted by Algeria to suspend the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighborly Relations with Spain in 2002 is of the utmost concern. We are evaluating the implications of Algeria’s actions, including the instructions to the financial authorities to stop transactions between the two countries & rdquor ;, says a joint statement signed by the head of European diplomacy, Joseph Borrelland Domvrovskis, with whom he has met for just over an hour at the headquarters of the Community Executive.
At first glance, Brussels maintains, this trade embargo “seems to violate the association agreement between the EU and Algeria in 2005”, particularly in the area of trade and investment. Something that would lead “to discriminatory treatment towards a Member State and would negatively affect the exercise of the rights of the Union provided for in the Agreement & rdquor ;. The same reading that Minister Albares has done after the meeting that has verified that Brussels and Madrid value “exactly the same” the situation. “We have agreed that the unilateral measure announced yesterday by Algeria violates the Association Agreement between the EU and that country and, therefore, although it is directed at Spain, it affects the single market, trade and economic relations.”
coercive measures
In its analysis of what happened, the European Commission reiterates that Algeria is an “important trading partner in the Mediterranean and a key actor for regional stability.” But they also warn that trade policy is an “exclusive competence of the EU & rdquor; and that “the EU is willing to face any type of coercive measures applied against a Member State & rdquor ;. Some possible reprisals that have not been specified at the moment. “It is evident that the European Commission, which is the one that has the competence in commercial matters, has tools and instruments to be able to face any type of situation”, Albares has indicated.
Specifically, the Association Agreement between the EU and Morocco includes a dispute resolution mechanism that can be activated by both parties in the event of a conflict, with the possibility of resorting to arbitration. The problem, sources from the Community Executive admit, is that this route could take months and even years, which is not ideal.
dialogue path
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Before going so far, the European Commission is in favor of prioritizing the way of dialogue. “We trust that, in the name of our solid and lasting association, a quick solution will be found to fully restore commercial and investment relations. We are ready to support these efforts & rdquor ;, Borrell and Dombrovskis, who are not only in contact with the Spanish authorities, they have also already contacted the Algiers authorities to “quickly clarify the situation”.
Spain has also been in favor of following the path of dialogue rather than confrontation. “Spain’s wish is that this be resolved as soon as possible through dialogue and through the normal diplomatic channels”, explained Albares at the end of a brief appearance in which he stressed that the Government of Pedro Sánchez has not taken any decision or made any statement that could lead to an escalation of the crisis with Algeria. “What we want is to maintain the same relationship with Algeria as with all our neighbors. A relationship based on friendship, based on mutual respect, on the sovereign equality of States, on non-interference in internal affairs,” he insisted. reiterating that they will not give “any excuse” for any escalation and that it is necessary to resume trade relations that have been “mutually beneficial”.