Brussels, 25/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - Fayza Aboulnaga, Egyptian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for international co-operation, is to meet European Commissioner Chris Patten in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday. Her visit takes place although implementation of the Association Agreement is delayed until 2004. It was ratified in early April by the Egyptian parliament, but by only five Member States so far (Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Finland and Sweden) and the European Parliament.
Ms Aboulnaga will have several working sessions with Commission Directorates-General (Relex, Europaid), which will allow position to be taken on co-operation. One of the subjects under discussion will be the impact of the war in Iraq on the country's economy, particularly on tourism. Talks will also focus on the industrial modernisation programme, especially in the textiles sector. Egypt will report on its national finance plan for 2003.