Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell i Fontelles on behalf of the European Commission

7.3.2023

Algeria is an important partner for the EU in the Mediterranean and a key actor for regional stability. The EU has been consistently working to enhance its partnership with Algeria, with a focus on the priorities as reflected in the Association Agreement[1].

Energy, and in particular gas supplies, are one of the pillars of the EU’s cooperation with Algeria, based on long-term energy contracts on which Algeria has reliably delivered.

The EU highly values its energy cooperation with Algeria and is ready to deepen and further expand it. The Algerian authorities have consistently reassured the EU that energy supply to Spain will be guaranteed through the Medgaz submarine gas pipeline and, if needed, through liquefied natural gas shipments.

According to information available to the Commission, Algeria has always stood by this commitment and been able to fulfil its contractual obligations in their entirety through the existing network of gas pipelines.

Moreover, following the EU’s decision to cut its gas imports from Russia, Algeria is committed to increasing its gas supplies to Europe in 2022 and in the following years.

As regards Algeria’s stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU has kept the matter high on its bilateral political agenda and repeatedly raised it with Algerian interlocutors at all levels, to convey the EU’s position, invite Algeria to clearly condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and engage in an exchange, including on the successive United Nations resolutions.

• [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=OJ%3AL%3A2005%3A265%3ATOC