Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia have toughened their tone towards Europe. "These countries have discovered their leverage and bargaining power, which has enabled them to reverse the power asymmetry," Isabelle Werenfels, senior fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), told DW. "Last year has been quite challenging for the relations with the European Union and the Maghreb region," he told DW. Morocco tightened ties with Western countries but widened the gap with its neighbor Algeria over the Westen Sahara dispute. Image: Ryad Kramidi/AFP/Getty ImagesEuropean-Algerian nexus"Algeria is one of the few countries in North Africa where relations have not deteriorated," Nemec said.
