Luxembourg, 22/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - While EU foreign ministers, meeting on 21 October, discussed the situation in Egypt, they also took note that the report by the European Court of Auditors on EU Cooperation with Egypt in the field of Governance published on 18 June 2013 “raises concerns about shortcomings with regard to Public Finance Management” (see EUROPE 10869). In their conclusions, then, ministers say the EU should improve the effectiveness of its policy dialogue on governance and strengthen the management of the budget support instrument in Egypt. More emphasis, they say, should be placed on public finance management and the fight against corruption in the negotiations for a new action plan.
While stating that “effectiveness remains key”, ministers underlined “the importance of recognising the complex political and institutional context in Egypt during the whole reporting period”. The effectiveness of EU action also depends on the local and regional political environment and comes in combination with the authorities' commitment in the area, they add. The Council acknowledges that a majority of the Court of Auditors' recommendations have already been acted upon since the reporting period. Furthermore, the European neighbourhood policy review in 2011 “marked a significant effort by the Commission and EEAS to improve the effectiveness of EU support”, the Council, like the Court of Auditors, says.
For the period from 2007 to 2013, the EU allocated some €1 billion to Egypt and more than half of this sum passed through the Egyptian Treasury. The report is critical of European aid, describing it as “well-intentioned but ineffective”. (CG/transl.fl)