During a plenary debate on the priorities of the partnership between the EU and Egypt for 2017-2020 (see EUROPE 11836), many MEPs underlined that while Egypt is an important partner for the EU, especially in counter-terrorism and migration management, this cannot justify sweeping the issue of human rights under the carpet.
"No short-term cooperation on the fight against terrorism or migration can compensate for the human rights violations or justify the silence of the EU", Marietje Schaake (ALDE, Netherlands) stated, mentioning acts of torture, forced disappearances, extra-judicial executions, trials of civilians before courts martial, and legislation on the work of NGOs (see EUROPE 11800).
For Fabio Castaldo (EFDD, Italy), reference to human rights in the agreement is "surreal because on our partner's territory there are dozens and dozens of disappearances. The Egyptian authorities are doing nothing for these rights".
The Greens/EFA Group took the same view. "The agreement commits both parties to defending human rights, but in reality Egypt is doing exactly the opposite", Barbara Lochbihler (Greens/EFA, German) stated. In her view, the export of arms from certain EU member states to Egypt make the EU "complicit in the human rights violations" in the country.
For the EPP, Romanian MEP Cristian Dan Preda said it was "essential to continue working with the Egyptians to favour a constructive approach" to human rights and civil society. "There should not be any taboo subjects between partners", Marisa Matias (GUE/NGL, Portugal) stated. In her opinion, "the issue of human rights must not be considered as a minor issue" in relation to economic and trade issues. Several MEPs, mainly from Italy, underlined the case of Italian student Giulio Regeni, who was tortured and killed in Egypt (see EUROPE 11485) and into whose case the investigation is left to slip by.
By contrast, Victor Boștinaru (S&D, Romania) only highlighted the importance of the partnership. "To beat terrorism, we need to cooperate with all partners, including Egypt (...) It is important to cooperate on migration and regional stability", he said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)