Brussels, 17/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The political situation in Egypt since Hosni Mubarak left office will be the main topic for discussions at the informal dinner of the foreign ministers of the EU, in Brussels on the evening of Sunday 20 February, with Catherine Ashton. On the following day, the Foreign Affairs Council will return to Egypt for a more technical discussion, particularly on how the EU can help the new authorities to manage the transition towards free and democratic elections and to set in place a socio-economic development programme. The idea is to create a package of aid measures (“transition and transformation support package”)- preparing the electoral process, developing civil society, supporting justice reforms, socio-economic development, etc - which Catherine Ashton may propose to the Egyptian authorities during her visit on Monday evening and Tuesday (21-22 February) to Cairo. At Monday's Council, the ministers will also tackle the Egyptian request to freeze the assets of a number of former leaders of the old regime. The list they have submitted does not include Hosni Mubarak's name, but this does not prevent the EU from taking a measure of this kind in any case, if it wishes to, diplomats stressed on Thursday. The subject will also be discussed by the Political and Security Committee (COPS) this Friday 18 February. (H.B./transl.fl)