On Saturday 17 September, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) criticised the decision earlier that day by a court in Cairo to freeze the assets of leading human rights defenders and three non-governmental organisations.
The spokesperson commented: "The decision taken today by an Egyptian court to freeze the assets of a number of prominent Egyptian human rights defenders will directly affect a wide range of civil society organisations operating in the field of human rights. These organisations play a key role in the democratic development of Egypt".
The spokesperson said: "The increased pressure on independent Egyptian civil society, in particular human rights organisations and defenders, is not in line with Egypt's commitments to promote and respect human rights and fundamental freedoms as guaranteed by its constitution and enshrined in the EU-Egypt association agreement, which is the basis for our partnership. Neither is it helpful for the stability, the security and the prosperity of Egypt that we all seek".
The European Union regularly denounces restrictions on human rights in Egypt. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)