Grande-Marlaska and his Algerian counterpart pledge in Algiers to step up the fight against criminal human trafficking networks

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, met in Algiers with his Algerian counterpart, the Minister for Home Affairs, Local Authorities and Transport, Said Sayoud, with whom he undertook to strengthen the fight against human trafficking, "to be more effective in this shared challenge", he said.

"We must continue to work together and coordinate our efforts and capabilities to confront the growing phenomenon of criminal networks, which in addition to trafficking people, putting their lives at risk, have increased their involvement in drug trafficking," said the minister, who this afternoon will also hold a meeting with the President of Algeria and Minister of Defence, Abdelmajid Tebboune.

Grande-Marlaska acknowledged Algeria's status as a "key partner" for Spain and thanked the Algerian security forces for their efforts, intercepting 30,000 illegal departures in 2024, "preventing thousands of deaths on long sea crossings".

The two delegations analysed new possibilities for bilateral cooperation, which were already discussed at the recent meeting of the Joint Commission responsible for Monitoring the Agreement between Spain and Algeria on security matters, held on 13 October in Madrid.

Both ministers pledged to relaunch the 2002 return agreement. "A joint technical commission will analyse whether it needs to be updated to be more effective," explained Grande-Marlaska after the meeting, who also announced collaborative measures to combat document fraud and limit the use of speedboats.

During the meeting, the Home Affairs ministers agreed on the importance of "intensifying" the exchange of information between the security services responsible for investigating organised crime, as well as sharing working protocols and promoting the detection of false documentation.

Cooperation on road safety and civil protection

The meeting addressed collaboration on road safety, following the visit by an Algerian delegation to the Directorate General of Traffic in Madrid on 29 and 30 September to learn about the institutional organisation and traffic management in Spain, in response to the concern expressed in Algeria about the increase in fatalities on its roads.

The two ministers agreed to reactivate cooperation in civil protection and emergencies, within the framework of the Administrative Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation in Civil Protection signed between the two countries in January 2013, and to revive the Cooperation Programme between National Civil Protection Schools signed in 2018.

The Spanish delegation, headed by Grande-Marlaska, included the Director-General of International Relations and Immigration, Elena Garzón; the Director-General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, Virginia Barcones; the Director-General of Traffic, Pere Navarro; the Commissioner General of Immigration and Borders of the National Police, Julián Ávila, and the Commander of the Borders and Maritime Police Command, Guardia Civil, Lieutenant General Manuel Navarrete.

Monday's visit is Grande-Marlaska's fourth to Algeria, following official trips made by the Minister for Home Affairs in July 2018, November 2019 and August 2020.

Non official translation