Brussels, 22/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton, who arrived in Cairo on Monday evening (EUROPE N. 10320), held talks on 22 February with the Egyptian transitional authorities and representatives of the opposition and civil society. Between meetings, she told the local press that discussions were underway to give Egypt €1 billion in additional aid under financing programmes of the European Investment Bank (EIB). “Tomorrow in Brussels, officials will come from all over the world who we've been talking to, to again look at what we can do in support of Egypt. We are already discussing the capacity to give an extra billion euros in extra support through their funding programmes”, said the High Representative of the EU, reported by Reuters. Ashton was to hold a press conference in Cairo on Tuesday evening. Additionally, the Egyptian Finance Minister, Samir Radwane, is reported to have asked for the support of the United Kingdom in having the country's debts to the member states of the EU written off. The request was put on Monday to British Minister of State for Trade Stephen Green on the sidelines of the visit to Cairo of British Prime Minister David Cameron (EUROPE N. 10320). (H.B./transl.fl)