Brussels, 03/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 2 June, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton expressed her concern at the new Egyptian law on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) - a draft of which was presented to the Shoura Council last week. “The high representative fears that the draft law still contains elements that can unnecessarily constrain the work of NGOs in Egypt and hinder our capacity as a foreign donor to support their work”, a spokesperson for Ashton said in a press release. “The draft law has to be in line with international standards and obligations of Egypt”, the spokesperson added.
Reiterating that the EU provided technical advice to the authorities in the process of drafting the new law on associations, the spokesperson stated that “the high representative salutes this readiness to engage and the resulting improvements in the draft”. “The EU remains fully committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that an NGO law, fully in line with best regional and international practice, is adopted in Egypt”, the spokesperson added.
Civil society has “a crucial role to play in the ongoing transition towards democracy”, Ashton re-asserted.
On 31 May, the US Department of State also said it was concerned by the draft law, believing that it imposes significant government control, as well as restrictions, on the activities and financing of civil society groups. (CG/transl.fl)