Brussels, 12/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 November, the EU and Egypt will come together in the first-ever EU/Egypt task force in Cairo. The EU Special Representative for the southern Mediterranean region, Bernardino Leon, explained that this task force is one of the most ambitious exercises for the EU and member states, particularly in the context of the Arab Spring. He added that the EU would like to be Egypt's main partner. Quite a fanfare is surrounding the European Union visit, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, the Commissioner for enlargement and neighbourhood policy Stefan Füle and his counterpart at industry and entrepreneurship, Antonio Tajani, will attend, as well as the president of the European Investment Bank, a delegation of five MEPs and representatives from the EBRD, IMF and other European countries. More than 100 European entrepreneurs will also be taking part in the event.
According to Leon the amount of European investment to accompany the transition is expected to be significant and in line with the EU's goals. A senior European official explained that the EIB and the EBRD will be announcing important programmes. Egypt is also hoping to conclude a €4.5 billion loan with the IMF around the middle of December.
The task force programme is extremely comprehensive: economic cooperation, SME development, agriculture, tourism, education and technology transfer. Hannes Swoboda, the president of the S&D group at the European Parliament, emphasised that it is crucial that the EU and Egypt give their views on a whole range of concrete measures to underpin economic development. It is in the interest of both parties to invite European investors to start up or develop companies in Egypt, particularly in the tourism sector. He also underlined the importance of education and social policies. According to a senior official, the meeting is also expected to help towards taking another step towards the development of a comprehensive and far reaching free trade zone. The same official added that results are expected in the field of trade and capacity development. There will also be a possibility of twinning institutions and ministries involved in trade.
The question of recovering Egyptian assets illegally exported abroad is important for the Egyptians and it will also be on the agenda. The senior European official quoted above explained that the amounts involved are significant and it is very important to attempt to locate these assets and send the funds back to Egypt. It will be necessary to attempt to reach an agreement on new proposals to better coordinate efforts for recovering assets.
Human rights and women's rights, parity and political rights will also be subjects for discussion. (CG/trans/fl)