Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-05-16-Speech-3-307"
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"en.20010516.10.3-307"2
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"Allow me first of all to point out that the negotiations for an Association Agreement between the European Union and Algeria are going according to plan but that a number of important issues remain to be resolved. The negotiators meet almost every month with a view to concluding the negotiations this year. Much has been achieved.
Algeria has already given its preliminary approval to the following human rights wording: ‘Respect for the democratic principles and fundamental human rights established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights inspires the domestic and external policies of Algeria and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.’ This broad reference covers human rights for all human beings, irrespective of gender, as well as all areas of civil and political, as well as social, economic and cultural rights.
Another provision in the draft gives each of the contracting parties the right to take suitable measures if it considers that the other party has omitted to fulfil an obligation under the Agreement.
In the ongoing negotiations, agreement has also been reached concerning two important matters affecting the situation of women. Special emphasis is to be placed on giving the female section of the population access to education, including technical education, higher education and vocational education; and – within the framework of social cooperation – priority is to be given, through education and the media, to promoting women’s role in the process of economic and social development, concurrently with Algerian policy on the issue.
Concluding an Association Agreement will facilitate and institutionalise the political dialogue with Algeria, including on issues affecting human rights.
With regard to Mr Andrews’s question, the Council shares his concern about the murders which have taken place in Algeria over the last ten years. Through the Swedish Foreign Minister, the Presidency addressed the issue at the meeting for political dialogue between the European Union and Algeria which took place in Algeria on 24 April. We expressed our concern about disappearances, arbitrary arrests and torture. Moreover, a list of such cases was passed to the Algerian authorities, and we requested information about these cases.
The European Union has also expressed its concern along the same lines at the annual meeting with the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
Within the framework of MEDA’s technical and financial aid to Algeria, the EU supports a project for modernising the police force. The programme includes training in respect for human rights in the course of police interventions. EUR 8.2 million have been set aside for this purpose. The European Union is also providing aid to selected institutions with a view to strengthening civil society.
Once the Association Agreement with Algeria that I have just mentioned has been concluded, the political dialogue with Algeria will be institutionalised. We shall then have a framework within which we can express our concern about, and criticisms of, Algeria."@en1
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