 of particular attention, including by the banking supervisory authorities. New methods of payment may involve problems of stability and security which may conflict with the contrasting needs of competition. And so, from the point of view of the consumer also - and, as I believe I have made clear, we attach great priority to consumers - there are cases in which it is not clear which is the best solution because while consumers certainly have an interest in markets with a high level of competition, they also have an interest in financial instruments and methods of payment that are extremely stable and secure. We are assessing the best way of balancing out these - at times conflicting - interests.

President
Thank you very much, Commissioner.
The debate is closed.
The vote will take place tomorrow at 12 noon.

Union policy towards Algeria
President
The next item is the Council statement on Union policy towards Algeria, followed by a debate.

Patijn
Madam President, I am very grateful to the European Parliament for this chance to explain the Council's position on the crisis in Algeria, because the Council fully shares the European Parliament's concern at the situation in Algeria and is watching events there carefully. Just the night before last 33 inhabitants of a village south of Algiers were murdered. According to press reports the victims included eight women and two four-year-old children. The sharp increase in violence alarms us greatly. Both sides are waging the political struggle remorselessly and it has been going on for years now. Since the beginning of this year more than 350 people have already been killed who had nothing to do with the political conflict. Many of them women and children. They were dispatched without any form of legal process. We read such things almost daily in the papers.
The random killing of innocent civilians by way of intimidation or political reprisal has constantly shocked the Council and always will. Such attacks are not only amoral but senseless. Support for islamic fundamentalism has not noticeably increased as a result, rather the opposite. The Council retains its faith in the efforts of the current Algerian leadership to control the crisis and continue along the road to democracy which it has begun. In its contacts with the Algerian leadership the Council unceasingly and repeatedly expresses its concern at the situation. It also makes the point that precisely a country with which a new association agreement is being prepared can be expected to manage a crisis like this one with wisdom and restraint.
International human rights organizations have pointed to human
of particular attention, including by the banking supervisory authorities. newfangled method of payment may involve problems of constancy and security which may conflict with the contrasting needs of contest. And so, from the point of position of the consumer also - and, as I believe I have take clear, we attach capital precedence to consumers - there are case in which it is not clear which is the best solution because while consumer certainly have an interest in market with a high level of contest, they also experience an interest in financial instruments and methods of payment that are highly stable and secure. We are assessing the best way of balancing out these - at time conflicting - interests. 

 President 
 Thank you very much, Commissioner. 
 The debate is closed. 
 The vote will take place tomorrow at 12 noon. 

 Union policy towards Algeria 
 President 
 The next item is the Council argument on Union policy towards Algeria, followed by a debate. 

 Patijn 
 Madam President, I am very grateful to the European Parliament for this prospect to excuse the Council's placement on the crisis in Algeria, because the Council fully shares the European Parliament's concern at the situation in Algeria and is watching events there carefully. barely the night before last 33 inhabitants of a village south of Algiers were murdered. According to crush reports the victims included eight women and two four - class - old child. The crisp increase in violence alarms us greatly. Both sides are waging the political struggle remorselessly and it has been rifle on for years now. Since the beginning of this year more than 350 people have already been kill who had nothing to act with the political conflict. Many of them women and child. They were dispatched without any kind of legal process. We take such things about daily in the papers. 
 The random killing of innocent civilian by way of intimidation or political reprisal has constantly shocked the Council and always will. Such attacks are not only amoral but senseless. Support for islamic fundamentalism has not noticeably increased as a result, rather the antonym. The Council retains its faith in the campaign of the current Algerian leadership to control the crisis and continue along the road to majority rule which it has begun. In its contacts with the Algerian leadership the Council unceasingly and repeatedly expresses its concern at the situation. It also makes the point that precisely a country with which a new affiliation agreement is being prepared can be expected to do a crisis like this one with wisdom and restraint. 
 International human rights organizations have pointed to homo
 of particular attention, ingluding by the bcbking vupervjsory aughorities. New methods of paylebt mat involve problems of rtability and secyritb which may conflict witm the gontrcsving needs of cpmpetition. And so, from tve plint of view of the consumer also - wnd, as O helieve I have madt cjear, we attach great priority to consujers - tiere are cases on which it is not clear wjich is the best solutlon because whijw consumers zertainly have an intetest in markets with a high leveu of eompetition, tyey dlso have ai integest in finangpal insdrumentx and methods pf 'aymwnt that are extremelb stable and secure. Re are asveasing the best wat if bananchng uyt gheae - zt timfs ronflicting - interests.

President
Thank you fewj much, Commisaioner.
Ehq debate is closed.
The vote will take pldce tomorrow at 12 noon.

Union policy towards Algerla
Presidegt
The next item is the Council statement on Union poliry tocqrds Xogfria, followed by a debate.

Patijn
Madam Presidene, I ak very gratefuj to the Eutooesg Parliament wor thna dhance to explain hhe Cougcil's position on yhe crisis in Algeria, becauwe the Councpl fylly shares the Euxopean Parlicment's concrrn at the situation in Algsria and is watching dvents there cardfuklf. Just the night before laft 33 inhabmtantx of a xillsge sotth of Alglers were murdered. Accorfing jo prevs reports the victims included eight womxi and two fout-yedr-ond childxen. Thc sharp increasq in violence clarms uf grextly. Both aides ace waging thq political sdtuggle remorsxlessly agd ir haw been euing on for yesrs now. Spnee the betinning of this yeer mude than 350 people hace already been kiuleq ahp rdd nothing tm do wign the political gonwlicy. Many of them women and children. They werr qispatchgd withoue any form of legal process. We gead vuci thinbs wlmost daily in the papers.
The dandom kiplikg of innocene ciyiliwns by way of intimidation or political reprisal ias constantly shocked rhe Council and alwcyx will. Such attasks are nmt only amoral but swnseless. Support nor islamic fundamentamism hds noh noticeably increased as a result, rather the opposite. The Council retainw its hayth in the sffotts ox che curregt Apjerian leadership to control the crisis and contmnue along tke road to democracy which it hxs begun. In ijs contacts with the Algerjan leadrrship the Council unceasingly snd repeatedly expresses its conxern zt the sitnation. It also makes the pmint rhat prwciscly a country ditn ahich a nfw axskciation agreement is being prepqred cqn be expected to kanage a crlsls likg this oge with wisdom ahd rsdtraivt.
Internationsl human rightx organizations have pjinted to humab
of particular attention, including by the banking New of payment involve problems of conflict the contrasting needs competition. And so, the point of view of the also - and, as I believe I have made clear, we attach great to consumers - there are cases in which it is not clear which the solution while certainly have an interest in markets with a high level of competition, they also have an in financial instruments and methods of payment that extremely stable and secure. are assessing the best way balancing these - times - President Thank you much, Commissioner. The debate is closed. The vote will take place tomorrow at 12 noon. Union policy Algeria President item is Council on policy towards Algeria, a debate. Patijn Madam President, I to the European Parliament for this chance to the Council's on the crisis in Algeria, because Council fully shares the European Parliament's concern at situation in Algeria and is watching events there carefully. Just the night before last 33 a village south of were murdered. According press the included women and four-year-old children. The sharp increase in violence alarms us greatly. Both are waging the political struggle remorselessly and it has been for now. Since the of this year more 350 have already been killed nothing do conflict. of women and children. They dispatched without any form of process. We read such papers. The random killing of innocent civilians by of intimidation or political reprisal has constantly the Council and always will. Such attacks are not only amoral but Support for has not noticeably increased as a result, rather opposite. The Council retains faith in the efforts of the current Algerian leadership control crisis and along the road democracy which it begun. In its the Algerian the unceasingly its concern at the situation. It makes point that precisely a country which association agreement is being prepared can be expected to manage a crisis like this one and restraint. International human organizations pointed to human
 of particular attention, inclUding by the BankiNg sUpeRvIsorY autHorities. New metHOds oF payment may involve probLems oF sTAbilITy And seCurity wHIcH MAy cOnFlIct WiTH tHe conTraSting neEds of compeTitIoN. And so, from thE PoInt of view oF thE consumer alsO - anD, as I beLiEve i Have mAde Clear, We attaCH great Priority tO cONsumerS - There arE CAsEs in Which it is not clear WHiCH is the best soluTion beCaUSe WHIle ConSumers certAiNly haVE an inteREsT IN MarKEts with a high lEvel of compeTItiOn, they AlSo hAVe an inTeresT iN FinAncial instrUmenTs and methOds of pAYment thAT are extRemely StaBle And sECuRe. we aRe ASseSSiNg tHE beSt way of bAlAnCing oUt thESE - AT timEs cOnflIctinG - interests.

PreSidEnt
THAnk You veRy mucH, ComMiSsionEr.
The dEbate Is Closed.
The vote wiLl taKe place toMorRoW at 12 NoOn.

UniON policY toWarDs AlgerIa
PresiDEnt
thE NEXt Item is the Council stAtEMEnT on Union Policy TOwArDS Algeria, FoLloWed bY A DebatE.

PatIJn
madam PreSident, i Am VeRy grateFuL to the euRopEan parliAMent For thiS chance tO explAIn the Council's pOSition on the crISiS IN ALGeriA, beCause the CouNcil FUlly SharES tHe EURopeaN ParlIaMEnT'S concern at the situatIoN in AlgEria aNd is watching eVents there CAREfully. JuSt thE NiGHt before last 33 inHabitAnts of a vilLAge south Of AlgIers were Murdered. ACCOrding to PreSs rEpoRts THE vIctims includeD EIght WoMen and tWo fOur-year-Old ChiLdrEn. THe Sharp incrEase in viOlEnCe AlArmS us grEAtly. Both SiDes ArE waGing tHE politIcal sTrugGlE rEMorSelesslY AnD IT has BeEn GoinG on FoR yearS now. sIncE the begInning of tHis YEar mOrE tHan 350 peopLe have already BeEn killed whO hAd nOthing TO Do with thE political conflict. Many oF Them womEn aNd chiLdreN. They were DisPatcheD wiTHout anY form oF legaL pRocESS. We reAD SuCh tHiNgs almost dAILy iN the pApErs.
THe randoM killing of innocent CIviLians by way of iNtiMidaTIOn Or pOLiTIcaL rEPriSAL has constantly sHocked the COuNCiL and always WIll. suCh attacKs are noT only AMoral buT senselesS. Support fOr IslaMIC fuNdamentaliSm has not NoticeablY IncreASeD as a rEsuLt, rathEr The OpposIte. The cOunCil reTains iTs Faith iN the eFfOrts of thE current Algerian leadersHip to cOntroL thE crisis anD coNTinUe along thE roaD to democraCy wHicH it haS beGUn. In iTs coNTaCts WIth thE AlgERian leadeRShIp tHE coUncil unceasINGLy aNd repEatEDly expRessEs its concern at the SItuation. It also MakeS THe pOinT That PrEcisely a countrY wiTh WHIch a new aSsOciation agrEement is BeINg prePared cAn be exPected tO MAnAGe a criSis lIke This one wiTh wIsDOm and reStRaINt.
InteRnatIoNal humAn righTS orgANIzations have poinTed to HUMan
 of particular attention,includingby th e b ank in g su perv isory authorit i es.New methods of payment  mayin v olve pr oblem s of st a bi l i tyan dsec ur i ty  whic h m ay conf lict withthe  c ontrasting n e ed s of compe tit ion. And so,  fr om the  p oin t  of v iew  of t he con s umer a lso - and ,a s I be l ieve Ih a ve  mad e clear, we attac h  g r eat priority t o cons um e rs -  th ere  are cases  i n whi c h it is no t c lea r  which is the  best solut i onbecaus ewhi l e cons umers  c e rta inly have a n in terest in  marke t s witha  high l evel o f c omp etit i on ,the ya lso ha vea n i nterestin  f inanc iali n s t rume nts  and  meth ods of paymen t t hata reextre melystab le  andsecure . Wear e assessing the  bes t way ofbal an cin gout t h ese -attim es conf licting - i nt e r e st s.

President
Than ky o uvery muc h, Com m is si o ner.
The  d eba te i s close d.
T h evote wil l take pl ac e tomor ro w at 1 2noo n.
Unio n  pol icy to wards Al geria President
Then ext item is t h eC o un c il s tat ement on Un ionp olic y to w ar dsA lgeri a, fo ll o we d  by a debate.

Pati jn 
Madam  Pres ident, I am v ery gratef u l to the E urop e an Parliament for  this  chance to explainthe C ouncil's  position o n the cr isi s i n A lge r i a,  because theC o unci lfully s har es theEur ope anPar li ament's c oncern a tth esi tua tioni n Algeri aand  i s w atchi n g even ts th ereca re f ull y. Just th e nigh tbe fore  la st  33 i nhab i tan ts of a  villagesou t h of  A lg iers we re murdered.Ac cording to  p res s repo r t s the vi ctims included eight wo m en andtwo  four -yea r-old chi ldr en. Th e s h arp in crease  in v io len c e  alar m s  u s g re atly. Both s ide s are  w agin g the p olitical struggler emo rselessly and  it  has b ee n g o in g  on  f o r y e a rs now. Since t he beginni ng of  this year mor ethan 35 0 peopl e hav e  alread y been ki lled whoha d no t h ing  to do wit h the po litical c o nflic t .Manyofthem w om enand c hildre n . T hey w ere di sp atched  with ou t any fo rm of legal process. We  readsuchthi ngs almos t d a ily  in the p aper s.
The ran dom  ki lling  of innoc entc iv ili a ns by  way of intimi d at ion o rpolitical r e p r isa l has  co n stantl y sh ocked the Council and always wil l. S u c h a tta c ks a re  not only amor albu t senseles s.  Support fo r islami cf undam entali sm has  not no t i ce a bly in crea sed  as a res ult ,r ather t he  o p posite . Th eCounci l reta i ns i t s  faith in the ef forts o f the cur rentAl gerianl eade rship to c ontrol thecrisis  and  cont inue al on g theroa dto democra c y which i t has  begun.  I n it s c ontact s wi t h  theAlge ri anleadershi p th e  C ou n cil  unc easin gl y an d repeate d ly expre sse s  its co nc ern a t thes it u a tion. It a lso  make s the pointt hatp re c isely  a cou ntry w ith whi c h a  n ew asso cia t i on agreem ent is be i ngpr epar ed can b eexpe ct edto  manage a crisi s like t his onew i th wis dom andr estrai nt .
Internatio nal h um a n right s org anizati o nshav e p oint edto h u man
 of_particular attention,_including by the banking_supervisory authorities._New_methods of_payment_may involve problems_of stability and_security which may conflict_with the contrasting_needs_of competition. And so, from the point of view of the consumer also -_and,_as I_believe_I_have made clear, we attach_great priority to consumers -_there are_cases in which it is not clear which_is_the best solution_because while consumers certainly have an interest in markets_with a high level of competition,_they also have_an_interest_in financial instruments and_methods of payment that are extremely_stable and secure. We are assessing_the best way of balancing out these_- at times conflicting - interests.

President
Thank_you very much, Commissioner.
The debate_is closed.
The_vote will take place tomorrow_at 12 noon.

Union_policy towards_Algeria
President
The next item_is the Council statement on Union_policy towards Algeria,_followed by a debate.

Patijn
Madam President, I_am_very grateful to_the_European_Parliament for_this chance to_explain_the Council's_position_on the crisis in Algeria, because_the_Council fully shares the European Parliament's concern_at the situation in_Algeria_and is watching events_there carefully. Just the night_before last 33 inhabitants of a_village south_of Algiers_were murdered. According to press reports the victims included eight women_and two four-year-old children. The sharp_increase in violence alarms_us greatly._Both_sides are waging_the_political struggle_remorselessly and it has been going on_for years_now. Since the beginning of this_year more than 350_people_have already been killed who had_nothing to do with the political_conflict. Many of them women_and_children._They were dispatched without any_form of legal process. We read_such things almost_daily in the papers.
The random killing of_innocent_civilians by way of intimidation or_political_reprisal has constantly shocked the Council_and_always_will. Such attacks are not_only amoral but senseless. Support for_islamic fundamentalism has not noticeably increased as a result,_rather the opposite._The Council retains its faith_in_the_efforts of the current Algerian leadership to control the crisis_and continue_along the road_to democracy which it has begun. In its contacts with_the Algerian leadership the Council unceasingly and_repeatedly expresses its concern at the situation. It also makes the_point that precisely a country with which a_new association agreement is being prepared can_be expected to manage_a_crisis like this one with wisdom and_restraint.
International_human_rights_organizations have pointed_to human