Brussels, 11/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - During her visit to Egypt, High Representative Catherine Ashton finalised an agreement on 10 April, regarding the European electoral observation mission for the forthcoming presidential elections to be held on 26 and 27 May, her spokesperson announced on 11 April.
The memoranda of understanding have been agreed in principle with the Egyptian minister for foreign affairs and the Presidential Electoral Commission and are due to be signed by the head of the delegation to Cairo in the next few days. The agreement will “allow EU observers to travel unhindered throughout the country and to contact all parties concerned”, states a joint press release by Ashton and the Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy. “The mission will carry out its work and make its assessments impartially and neutrally”, the press release adds, going on to stress that both sides “anticipate transparent and credible elections”. A European source stated that the precise details for this observation mission “are currently being examined in greater detail”.
During her meetings with Fahmy and interim President Adly Mansour, former President of the Constitutional Drafting Committee Amr Moussa, Field Marshal Abdel Fatah al-Sissi and Secretary General of the League of Arab States,Nabil El Arabi, Ashton also raised the growing concerns of the EU regarding death penalty notices and the detention of journalists and activists. They also discussed economic challenges and the current and timely commitment of the EU to Egypt, as well as regional issues. (CG)