Brussels, 14/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 13 March, MEPs asked the EU not to grant budget aid to the Egyptian authorities without “substantial progress” on the respect of human rights and freedoms, and on the respect of democratic governance and the rule of law. In their joint resolution, they therefore ask High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to urge the Egyptian authorities and President Morsi to keep their commitments on these areas. They also call on Ashton and the Commission to “develop the 'more for more' principle”, focusing on civil society, women's rights and minority rights more consistently and in a more practical way, including the conditions and precise criteria. The Parliament urges the EU and the member states to make great effort to facilitate the recovery of assets confiscated by the old regime.
The MEPs reiterate their full support for increased EU-Egypt cooperation - that this cover human rights, mobility, the economy and trade, and they therefore encourage the development of economic cooperation between the EU and Egypt.
In its resolution, the Parliament also calls on the authorities to respect human rights and in particular women's rights and minority rights, and they call on the authorities for reforms, for the establishment of a political process open to all parties, founded on consensus and common approval, through a true national dialogue which is inclusive. The MEPs ask all political actors to show moderation so as to avoid fresh violence. (CG/transl.fl)