- European governments, scrambling to find alternatives to Russian gas since last year’s invasion of Ukraine that has sent prices soaring, have turned to Algeria instead.
- During a visit to Algeria on Monday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for stronger energy cooperation.
During a visit to Algeria on Monday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for stronger energy cooperation with Africa’s top gas exporter and enhanced security ties. Borrell said after a meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, “90 percent of Algerian gas exports go to Europe, and we know we can count on Algeria, which is a reliable partner and has been through difficult times”.
European governments, scrambling to find alternatives to Russian gas since last year’s invasion of Ukraine that has sent prices soaring, have turned to Algeria instead, with Italy leading the pack. Borrell called Algeria to “join efforts to stop this unjustifiable war,” noting its “economic and human impact on the entire world.”
Algeria has maintained warm ties with its European neighbours and Moscow, despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Tebboune, who is set to visit Russia in May, decided in February to reopen the Algerian Embassy in Kyiv, which had been closed since the invasion began last year. Borrell also said the EU and Algeria had agreed to “relaunch high-level security dialogue,” with the first meetings planned before the end of the year.
The top diplomat said the EU and Algeria could “do better” on trade relations, calling for a solution “to obstacles (Algeria) introduced since June 2022 to commerce with Spain.” The North African country had suspended a cooperation pact with Spain after Madrid reversed its decades-long neutrality on Western Sahara, agreeing to back regional rival Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed region.