The European Union (EU) cooperates with Algeria in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and its Southern dimension, the “Renewed partnership with Southern Neighbourhood– A new Agenda for the Mediterranean”.

Relations between the EU and Algeria are based on the Association Agreement, which entered into force in  2005.

The EU and Algeria adopted their jointly agreed Partnership Priorities at the Association Council of 13 March 2017.  The Partnership Priorities set up a renewed framework for political engagement and enhanced cooperation in the following areas:

(i) political dialogue, governance, the rule of law and the promotion of fundamental rights;

(ii) cooperation, socio-economic development, including trade and access to the European single market;(iii) energy, the environment and sustainable development; (iv) strategic and security dialogue; and (v) the human dimension, including cultural and inter-religious dialogue, migration and mobility.

EU assistance to Algeria is funded mainly through the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) for the period 2021-2027.  . It replaces the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) of 2014-2020 through which €236 million were mobilised for cooperation programmes with Algeria.

Bilateral assistance for the period 2021-2027 is defined in the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) and is guided by the Partnership Priorities which key sectors of cooperation are:

• Energy transition and climate action;
• Economic governance and local development;
• Diversified, sustainable and inclusive growth, jobs including green and digital.

Complementary support for the development of expertise in public administration at central and local level, and of civil society organisations was also provided outside these focal sectors.

Algeria also benefits from grants in the context of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighbours. The Plan, which was adopted by the Commission on February 2021, focuses on the economic recovery in the region, including following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Plan includes 12 preliminary flagship initiatives to strengthen resilience, build prosperity and increase trade and investment to support competitiveness and inclusive growth. Relevant flagships for Algeria include support to a green and circular economy, protecting the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources, as well as support to optimise energy efficiency and transition, notably renewable energy.

In addition to bilateral cooperation, Algeria benefited from  regional and Neighbourhood-wide cooperation programmes under the ENI, which mostly replicated the thematic focus of the EU’s bilateral cooperation with the country. Regional programmes involving Algeria deal with economic diversification and energy transition, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources (e.g. in agriculture)  and social aspects such as youth and women’s empowerment and media development.

Under the EU twinning tool, the Algerian public administration is partnering with European administrations for mutual learning and capacity building through sharing of EU best practices. Algeria benefitted from 26 twinning projects in 2014-2020 in the sectors of Agriculture and Fisheries, Environment, Finance, Internal market and economy, Justice and home affairs, Nuclear safety, Energy, Social affairs and Employment, Standardisation and certification, Trade and Industry, Telecommunications and Transport. Algeria also benefited from TAIEX  (Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument) that supports public administration reforms with 61 events in 2015-2020. Support in the field of migration under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF Africa)

Algeria benefits from bilateral and regional funding currently amounting to €8.9 million under the North of Africa window of the EUTF Africa, which supports efforts in enhancing migration management, addressing the roots causes of irregular migration and sustaining local communities hosting refugees.

The EU has mobilised significant humanitarian assistance notably to the Sahrawi camps in Southwest Algeria (Tindouf province), mainly in the form of food, water and medicines.

Algeria participates in Erasmus+, which supports the modernisation of the higher education sector and promotes mobility and co-operation with EU higher education institutions. Under this programme 3,281 Algerian students, professors and university staff travelled to Europe and 1,389 European counterparts travelled to Algeria between 2015 and 2022.

Algeria also benefits from additional EU thematic programmes and instruments:

• European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

• The Development Cooperation Instrument and its programme ‘Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities’

Factsheets available to download