Grande-Marlaska describes Algeria as Spain's "key partner" in terms of police and migration cooperation

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and his Algerian counterpart, Brahim Merad, greet each other

This is the first face-to-face meeting between the two ministers, who first met by telephone on 28 October.

"We share many common interests and important challenges which, today more than ever, require joint responses that offer effective solutions," said Grande-Marlaska, who discussed with his counterpart the convening of the next Joint Commission of the Convention on Security and the Fight against Terrorism and Organised Crime, in force since 2009.

The two ministers pledged to intensify the exchange of "strategic, prospective and operational information" to enable law enforcement agencies to anticipate illicit activities linked to organised crime and drug trafficking.

Migratory pressure in the Mediterranean was another issue of interest at the meeting. Spain has underlined the "essential effort" made by Algeria to combat the mafias that traffic people through its territory, which has made it possible to dismantle "a significant number" of criminal organisations at source.

Grande-Marlaska also thanked his counterpart for the "support and efficiency" of the Algerian security services for their "decisive" contribution to the release of the Spanish citizen kidnapped in the south of the country on 14 January. "The excellent collaboration is evidence of the degree of trust and mutual respect that underpins our bilateral cooperation, which is particularly satisfactory in the fight against terrorism," said the home affairs minister.

Cooperation issues in civil protection and road safety were also discussed during the meeting, which was attended by the Secretary of State for Security, Rafael Pérez, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Susana Crisóstomo, and the Director General for International Relations and Foreigners, Elena Garzón.

Non official translation