Vella in Algeria to discuss Mediterranean strategy

Karmenu Vella, the Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries for the European Commission, will travel to Algeria on Thursday, 7 April to discuss the need for a common strategy for the management and development of the Mediterranean Sea’s resources.

The visit follows the agreement reached in Catania, Italy in February 2015 by European Union Mediterranean ministers that urgent action is needed to reverse the decline of fish stocks in the Mediterranean. According to the European Commission, Algeria is a “key partner for Europe in contributing to the sustainable management of resources and developing the blue economy in the Mediterranean.”

As part of his visit, Vella will invite the Algerian government to a ministerial conference on 27 April in Brussels, Belgium. Algeria’s participation “will be important to support ambitious measures to be proposed at the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean annual session in May 2017,” according to Iris Petsa, press officer for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries for the European Commission.

During his visit, Vella will meet with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, as well as the country’s Minister of Water Resources and Environment Abdelouahab Nouri, Minister for Transport Boudjema Talai, and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Sid Ahmed Ferroukhi.Vella will also visit El Djamila, a small fishing harbor.

"The Mediterranean is a politically, culturally and economically diverse sea-basin having shared resources and potential, vital for the entire region,” Vella said. “Healthy ecosystems are vital to keep generating wealth; a healthy Mediterranean Sea where natural richness is used responsibly will enable us to harness the full potential of the blue economy contributing significantly towards driving regional competitiveness and stability.”

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