ALGIERS: Joseph Borrell, the head of foreign policy for the European Union, on Monday called for enhanced energy cooperation and security ties with Algeria during a visit to the continent's top petrol exporter.

"Nearly 90 percent of Algerian petrol exports go to Europe, and we know we can count on Algeria, which is a reliable partner and has gone through difficult times," Borrell said after a meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. "

The bloc of 27 nations wants to strengthen its ties with Algeria "looking to the future" by prioritizing European investment in the renewable energy sector, Borrell said in a statement.

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Italy is leading the pack of European governments that have turned to Algeria as an alternative to Russian gas after last year's invasion of Ukraine sent prices soaring.

Noting the "economic and humanitarian impact on the whole world", Borrell urged Algeria to "join efforts to stop this unjust war".

Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Algeria has maintained cordial relations with both its European neighbors and Moscow.

President Tebboune, who is set to visit Russia in May, decided in February to reopen the Algerian embassy in Kiev, which had been closed since the invasion began last year.

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Furthermore, Borrell said that Algeria and the European Union had agreed to "restart high-level security dialogue", with the first meeting scheduled for the end of the year.

It shows that Algeria is an important ally in the fight against terrorism in our common neighbourhood.

Borrell praised Algeria's "great history of the fight against terrorism" and urged a "global and strategic vision" to deal with threats, particularly in the Sahel region.

The top diplomat argued that trade relations between the EU and Algeria could be improved and urged "action to remove the barriers (to Algeria) introduced from June 2022 to commerce with Spain."

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In response to Madrid's decision to abandon its long-standing policy of neutrality with respect to Western Sahara, the North African nation suspended an association agreement with that country.