Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Algerian authorities strengthen bilateral cooperation on home affairs

The aim of these meetings was to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in managing migratory flows, the fight against terrorism and organised crime, and collaboration in such fields as civil protection, police training and road safety.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska was accompanied on his visit to Algeria by the Director-General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, Leonardo Marcos; the Director-General of International Relations and Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Elena Garzón; the General Commissioner for Immigration and Borders of the National Police, Enrique Taborda; and the General Head of Prosecutions and Borders of the Guardia Civil, Juan Luis Pérez.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska's first meeting in Algiers was with his counterpart, the Minister for Home Affairs, Local Groups and Territorial Planning, Kamel Beldjoud. Subsequently, he held a working meeting with the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who also holds the post of Minister for Defence. On Monday afternoon, he will also meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sabri Boukadoum.

Strategic partner

At his meeting with Kamel Beldjoud, the two ministers highlighted the relations between Spain and Algeria within the framework of the jurisdictions of the two departments. The Spanish minister thanked his counterpart for the meeting and underlined its "great utility in stepping up and strengthening ties between our two countries".

"I also want to underline the importance of Algeria for Spain as a strategic partner on home affairs. Spain firmly believes in bilateral cooperation based on mutual trust and respect", he said.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska expressed Spain's interest in providing continuity to existing lines of work between the two departments, and in proposing new channels for cooperation.

The meeting served to revise the current situation, marked by the COVID-19 health crisis, with a view to bringing to the table the main issues of common interest on managing migratory flows, the fight against terrorism and organised crime, civil protection and road safety.

As regards migration, Fernando Grande-Marlaska highlighted the "good cooperation in fighting illegal immigration and in combating people trafficking networks" between Spain and Algeria.

"We share the same challenges and also the concern for the human dimension of the migratory phenomenon. We are convinced that to suitably manage migratory flows in the Mediterranean we must adopt preventive measures", stated the Spanish minister.

Fight against terrorism

Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Kamel Beldjoud addressed cooperation between Spain and Algeria in the fight against terrorism and organised crime. The Spanish minister stated that "Algeria has Spain's full support and collaboration in the fight against international terrorism and organised crime".

Fernando Grande-Marlaska also underlined "the excellent bilateral cooperation" between Spain and Algeria on police training.

Civil protection and social security

The two home affairs ministers also made progress on civil protection and road safety and, after the plenary session, held sector meetings that served to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

Collaboration on civil protection is framed and structured around the Administrative Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation on Civil Protection, signed between Spain and Algeria in 2013, which addresses such fields as training, prevention, communication and assistance in the event of disasters.

As regards road safety, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Directorate General of Traffic have been working closely with the Algerian authorities since 2015, and progress has been made in such areas as managing resources, data analysis, training, surveillance and regulations.

Third trip to Algeria

This is the third official trip by Fernando Grande-Marlaska to Algeria since he took over the Ministry of Home Affairs. His previous trip to Algeria took place on 28 November 2019.

The minister thus resumes his international agenda by making this trip. Since June 2018, he has made official several working trips to step up cooperation in the fight against people trafficking mafias, to Morocco (on four occasions, the last in February), Algeria, Mauritania, Guinea Conakry, Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast and Ghana.