MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

15.1.2008

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Luisa Morgantini, Vittorio Agnoletto
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on human rights in EGYPT

B6‑0032/2009

European Parliament resolution on human rights in EGYPT

The European Parliament,

• -having regard to its previous resolutions on Egypt;

A.  Whereas the promotion of respect for democracy, human rights and civil liberties are fundamental principles and aims for the European Union and constitute a common ground for the development of the Euro-Mediterranean area;

B.  Deeply concerned by the decision by the decision to close down in Cairo the Association for Human Rights and Legal Aid (AHRLA), a non governmental organisation monitoring and denouncing acts of torture in police stations as well as providing legal support to victims of torture;

C.  deeply concerned by the closing of the Centre for Trade Union and Workers Services (DTUWS) and its branches which is the first time an advocacy NGO is closed by an executive decision;

D.  deeply concerned by the wave of jail terms hitting journalists; human rights and political activists; concerned by the trial of civilians before the military court;

1.  est extrêmement préoccupé par les récentes mesures prises par les autorités égyptiennes contre les droits de l'Homme et l'état de droit dans ce pays; souligne la répression croissante en Egypte des activités des organisations de la société civile et politique;

2.  Calls on the Egyptian Government to end all forms of harassment, including judicial measures and detention, against media professionals and more generally the human rights defenders and activists calling for reforms and fully respect freedom of expression, in conformity with the EU guidelines on Human Rights and article 19 of the UN Internationals Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Egypt in 1982.

3.  Strongly supports measures to guarantee academic freedom, freedom of media and private religious belief and in so doing rescind arbitrary administrative measures such as those taken against the Centre for Trade Union and Workers´ Services and the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid; calls for the release of Kamal Abbas;

4.  Stresses that respect for human rights, including freedom of information, speech and association, is a fundamental value enshrined in the EU-Egypt Association Agreement and reaffirms the importance of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership for promoting the rule of law and fundamental freedoms;

5.  stresses that Article 2 of the EU-Egypt Association Agreement includes a clause demanding that human rights and democratic principles be respected; urges the Council and the Commission, in this connection, to develop and strengthen democracy programmes for Egypt, with a view to supporting Egyptian civil society;

6.  Instructs its Delegation for Relations with the Mashrek Countries to address the issue of human rights in Egypt at its next meeting with Egyptian parliamentarians and to involve representatives of civil society in the process;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States and the Government and Parliament of Egypt.