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This study analyses EU-Algerian relations in the context of the Barcelona Process, also known as the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP). It seeks to unveil the interests of both parties upon their engagement in this venture in 1995, to dissect the ideational and strategic origins of their negotiating priorities, and to trace the ways in which these preferences have evolved/changed in the period 1995-2005. By focusing on the EMP, this research aims to assess the impact of the dynamics of both strategic and normative/ideational nature, inherent in this process, on the evolution of the preferences of Algeria and the EU. Ultimately, the aim is to establish whether convergence of priorities, if it has occurred at all between the EU and Algeria in the framework of the Barcelona Process, was the product of their interaction within this process or the result of changes relating to their respective politics or to the international system more broadly. A synthetic theoretical framework is employed, consisting of rationalist and constructivist conceptions of international behaviour as encompassed by international regime theory. The analytical tools of Foreign Policy Analysis relating to the domestic sources of foreign policy behaviour are employed as well. Results show the EMP has little impact on the uncovered instances of interest convergence between the EU and Algeria in the chosen policy areas. It played only an indirect role in convergence of priorities in the area of political and security cooperation and had no effect on the dyadâ s preferences in terms of economic reform and energy cooperation. Approximation of interests in these instances was largely found to be directly correlated to changes in the respective polities of the EU and Algeria as well as in the international system. In conclusion, results point to shortcomings of the EMP as a framework for EU-Algerian relations and provide insights into how this relationship could be optimised in the future.