The EU has taken a step closer to establishing an association accord with Algeria

Date: 02/05/1996

with the Commission tabling its rules for the negotiations. Four rounds of exploratory talks with Algiers have provided the basic outlines of an agreement, including three main components - political and security, economic and financial, and social.

The Commission reports progress in Algeria's economy, but says more is needed. Concluding the association accord, it says, could help hasten the process of economic reform in the country.