The Presidents of the European Council, António Costa and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, called for closer relations between them at the first-ever EU/Egypt summit on Wednesday 22 October.
“We emphasise our shared ambition to further deepen long-term strategic ties, cooperate in addressing our many global and regional common challenges, promote joint interests and renew partnership priorities”, say the leaders in a joint statement. The EU and Egypt will strengthen their dialogue and cooperation on human rights “for all, in a comprehensive manner” and with a view to guaranteeing all rights.
The two sides stressed the need to strengthen economic cooperation, while on the sidelines of the summit, the two parties signed a new tranche of macro-financial aid to Egypt, worth €4 billion. The Egyptian reforms are “essential for creating a more solid business environment and attracting more investment to Egypt”, explained Mrs von der Leyen.
Leaders pledge to effectively implement the Free Trade Area, to create an environment conducive to trade and investment, and to continue their commitment to a sustainable investment facilitation agreement.
Migration. Recognising the growing complexity of migration dynamics in the region and the specific challenges facing Egypt, the two sides reaffirmed their “commitment to a comprehensive approach to migration governance”.
In particular, the EU “commends Egypt for hosting millions of refugees and asylum seekers” and both parties “will continue supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and host communities in full respect of international law and in line with national frameworks”.
The EU also “recognises Egypt’s valuable efforts in enhancing its national migration and asylum governance”. Egypt was included this year on the EU’s common list of safe countries of origin, which is currently under review.
In addition, both sides will “cooperate closely, with a view to creating structured, fair and regular migration pathways that benefit Egypt, migrants and European destination countries, including through the operationalisation of the EU-Egypt Talent Partnership”.
“We reiterate our shared commitment to further engage in addressing the root causes of irregular migration”, the declaration stresses. The Frontex agency could also help Cairo to manage its borders and the trafficking of migrants.
The EU and Egypt also want to pursue their dialogue and cooperation in common priority areas, such as regional and maritime security, the fight against terrorism and cyber security.
International. Welcoming the ‘Pact for the Mediterranean, both parties pledge to strengthen the resilience of the region and create new opportunities for young people, women, small businesses and entrepreneurs to ensure long-term stability. They are also determined to put their partnership “at the forefront” of the green transition in the Mediterranean.
Looking beyond the bilateral relationship, the summit recognised Egypt’s “essential” role in promoting stability in the region.
The leaders called on all parties to continue implementing the peace plan for Gaza and reiterated that guaranteeing the delivery of full humanitarian aid to Gaza was a “core EU and Egyptian priority”. They emphasised their commitment to the reconstruction and recovery of the enclave, in particular through the international conference to be organised by Egypt “once a lasting ceasefire is in place”, and through the intermediary of the Donors Group for Palestine.
Letter from the European Parliament. Led by Dutch MEP Tineke Strik, around twenty Greens/EFA MEPs wrote to António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen on 20 October to urge them “to address Egypt’s deplorable human rights situation directly with President Al-Sisi, in line with the EU’s legal obligations under the recent agreement on granting macro-financial assistance (MFA) to Egypt”.
But “despite these formal commitments, we regret that the Egyptian authorities have failed to meet the necessary human rights pre-conditions”, write the MEPs.
“Under Al-Sisi’s rule, arrests and judicial harassment against persons hoping to mount an electoral challenge to the authorities have continued (...). Egyptian authorities have persisted in committing similar patterns of human rights violations - including systemic torture, enforced disappearances, and mass arbitrary detention in harsh conditions - with impunity”.
Link to the Joint Declaration: https://aeur.eu/f/j3j
Link to the MEPs’ letter: https://aeur.eu/f/j2v (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Solenn Paulic)