Luxembourg, 15/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 13 June, the EU-Egypt Association Council held its second session since the association agreement took effect two years ago. The meeting in Luxembourg was attended by EU Council President Ursula Plassnik, High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana, European External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and, on the Egyptian side, Foreign Minister Ahmad Abulgeith and External Trade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid. It was largely devoted to neighbourhood policy. Cairo seemed to show great reticence to committing itself to any form of political conditionality, saying it will make its own choices about the reforms requested by the EU. It does not accept European assessments of its social legislation (on homosexuality or the right of minorities, in particular), or those that apply to public freedoms.
Speaking on behalf of the EU, Ms Plassnik said she “deplored the fact that the action plan in the context of European Neighbourhood Policy has not yet been finalised, and trusts that negotiations will rapidly achieve a result in coming weeks”. This “would open a new chapter in relations” and would offer the “prospect of enhanced cooperation in the political, economic and social fields”. The Council president devoted most of her formal speech to a detailed argument in favour of concluding an action plan. She announced that, with a view to an “imminent agreement” on the action plan, the EU has “reactivated procedures launched in 2005” (albeit suspended pending the fine-tuning of the plan) for the creation of eight sub-committees and a working group intended to play an essential role in terms of supervision, coordination and implementation in cooperation. A sub-committee on human rights and democracy is also foreseen.
A meeting of the Association Committee is to take place by end 2006 to seal an agreement that the EU is urgently calling for, and to establish closer political dialogue and cooperation on the base of common values. Egypt is in the meantime asked to make an effort in order to speed up political and economic reforms, promote peace and stability in the Middle East and combat common security threats. The EU also adds that sticking loyally to such common values will guide future relations, on which financing volume will depend.
As things stand, positive points have been brought forward. The EU notes the commitment shown by Egypt for a long time now and the precious contribution that it is making to the Barcelona Process. Also, Egyptian action in the Middle East, on terrorism, in the Iranian dossier or Sudan gives it a positive assessment. The president of the EU Council, however, set out “reasons for concern”. The EU, she recalled, recently noted its concern regarding the severity and the disproportionate nature of the treatment inflicted on peaceful demonstrators in Cairo, supporting Egyptian judges who criticised the unfolding of legislative elections in 2005. She also expressed concern about the allegations of torture and feels that Egypt should ensure that minority, religious, sexual and women's rights are respected. On the subject of immigration, European satisfaction is nonetheless accompanied by the desire for regular dialogue and for the differences in perception of the readmission question for illegal migrants to be resolved.
At economic level, the EU welcomes the fact that Egypt has successfully carried out remarkable economic reforms and that it has strengthened monetary stability and economic growth but this effort must be continued and consolidated to ensure that it has a lasting effect. The signing of the action plan should help Egypt to keep its commitments regarding regulatory and legislative reforms. The Egyptian ministers urged for the right of their country to conduct reform at its own pace without outside interference within respect of national constraints.
Egypt also affirmed the need to promote indepth cultural dialogue, recalling the Danish cartoon ruckus. Cairo calls for greater opening of the European market, especially for farm products.