- Provide an appropriate framework for political dialogue between the Parties, allowing the development of close relations and cooperation in all areas they consider relevant to such dialogue; - promote trade and the expansion of harmonious economic and social relations between the Parties and establish the conditions for the gradual liberalisation of trade in goods, services and capital; - facilitate human exchanges, particularly in the context of administrative procedures; - encourage integration of the Maghreb countries by promoting trade and cooperation within the Maghreb group and between it and the Community and its Member States; - promote economic, social, cultural and financial cooperation.

An essential feature of the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership has been the negotiation of Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements between the European Union and nine of its Mediterranean Partners to replace the 1970s Cooperation Agreements. With the conclusion of negotiations with Syria (October 2004), the grid of Association Agreements with Mediterranean Partners has been completed. Association Agreements are in force between the EU and Tunisia (since 1998), Israel (2000), Morocco (2000), Jordan (2002), Egypt (2004) Algeria (2005) Lebanon (2006) and on an interim basis with the Palestinian Authority (1997). The provisions of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements governing bilateral relations vary from one Mediterranean Partner to the other; as time has gone on more areas of cooperation have been included. However they have certain aspects in common: Political dialogue; Respect for human rights and democracy; Establishment of WTO-compatible free trade over a transitional period of up to 12 years; Provisions relating to intellectual property, services, public procurement, competition rules, state aids and monopolies; Economic cooperation in a wide range of sectors; Cooperation relating to social affairs and migration (including re-admission of illegal immigrants); Cultural cooperation; For the implementation of Association Agreements two common institutions are created: the Association Council (Ministerial) and the Association Committee (Senior Official level). As the Agreements are of a "mixed" type (drawing on both European Community and Member States' competences - the latter concerning the second and third EU pillar), after signature they have to undergo a lengthy ratification process by the national parliaments of the EU Member States.

Council Decision of 18 July 2005 on the conclusion of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, of the other part; OJ L265 of 10/10/2005, p.1

Framework Agreement ; Comprehensive Agreement ; Euromed Agreement ; Association Agreement