Brussels, 21/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - The EU foreign affairs ministers, who on 21 August met in extraordinary Council on Egypt- a country that they believe is “a very important partner” - decided to “suspend export licences to Egypt of any equipment which might be used for internal repression, and to re-assess export licences of equipment covered by Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of the Council and review their security assistance with Egypt”.
The ministers also tasked High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, in cooperation with the European Commission, “to review the issue of EU assistance to Egypt under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Association Agreement on the basis of Egypt's commitment to the principles that underpin them”. The ENP and the association agreement include, inter alia, references to human rights. However the ministers state that they are “mindful of the needs of the Egyptian people” and that “assistance in the socio-economic sector and to civil society will continue”. “The EU will monitor the situation in Egypt closely and readjust its cooperation accordingly”, the Council also states. “It is clear that all the member states want to continue to support the Egyptian people”, said Ashton during the press conference. Before the Council: Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt reportedly said that the suspension of trade is not something “very productive”. He said that not sending Swedish taxpayers' money to the people responsible for the massacre is “the minimum”. His Italian counterpart, Emma Bonino, believed that economic sanctions bear no weight.
Condemnation of the violence. Stressing that the EU is following the events in Egypt with “great concern”, particularly since 14 August, the ministers condemned all the acts of violence “in the clearest possible terms”. They called on all Egyptians to put an end to the cycle of violence and to refrain from all actions that could incite further violence, calling also for those responsible to be brought to justice. The Council considered that the recent operations of the security forces were disproportionate, and called on the government for restraint, while strongly condemning the acts of terrorism - the murder of police officers in Sinai, attacks on government or religious buildings, and the targeting of the Coptic community. It called on the authorities to put an end to the state of emergency, to restore a regular procedure urgently, to release all political prisoners and to respect international obligations on the treatment of detainees.
Fresh call for inclusivity. The ministers again called on all parties to engage immediately in a real and inclusive dialogue to restore democracy, and stated that they expect the swift holding of a national inclusive dialogue open to all political forces. The EU foreign ministers take note of the reaffirmation by the Egyptian authorities of their commitment to implement the roadmap.
Welcoming the agreement supported by Ashton, and reiterating that it is ready for new efforts if circumstances permit, the Council reaffirmed Europe's resolve to support an inclusive process, the relaunch of political dialogue and the possible elections, the continuation of Ashton's work and of that of Special Representative Bernardino Leon, and it reiterated Europe's resolve to help the Egyptian people in their quest for an Egypt which is stable, inclusive, democratic and prosperous.
Possible further measures. The ministers could take other measures. On arrival at the Council, while he stressed that “after what has been seen 'business as usual' is not possible”, Germany's Foreign Affairs Minister Guido Westerwelle, said that it is necessary “to observe the next steps and decisions, which will be the announcements in relation to the constitutional process and the free and fair elections”. “We are going to take them into consideration, to observe and then we will draw the consequences in detail”, he added (our translation). (CG with MD and MB/transl.fl)