EU-Texte

The "Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part" was signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2001 and came into force on 1 June 2004.

This Agreement forms part of the Barcelona Process (the Euro-Mediterranean partnership). Like all the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements, it contains:

• a human rights clause, recognised as an essential element of the Agreement;
• provisions on political dialogue;
• provisions relating to the free movement of goods, services and capital;
• cooperation on economic, social, cultural and financial questions.

This comprehensive cooperation agreement now covers all EU-Egypt relations and replaces the 1977 Cooperation Agreement.

Article 5 of the Agreement covers political dialogue and specifies:

"There shall be a political dialogue between the European Parliament and the Egyptian People's Assembly."

The EU launched its European Neighbourhood Policy in 2004 in a document titled "Wider Europe - Neighbourhood". The Policy created a framework for the EU's relations with 16 of the EU's Eastern and Southern Neighbours - including Egypt - in order to achieve the closest possible political association and the greatest possible degree of economic integration.

The ENP was reviewed in 2011, following the Arab uprisings, and again in November 2015. While the policy generally aims to foster stabilisation, security and prosperity, the specifics of the EU's efforts depend largely on the bilateral relationship with the country concerned.

There are 16 countries defined as part of the ENP. Of these, 12, including Egypt, have agreed on bilateral Action Plans or Association Agendas with the EU. These set out a series of political and economic reforms with short and medium-term priorities of 3 to 5 years. ENP Action Plans/Association Agendas reflect the needs, capacities an interests of the country and the EU.

A revised EU-Egypt Action Plan sets the agenda for economic and political cooperation with the EU.

The actions foreseen in the Plan's section on "Enhanced political dialogue and reform" include efforts to "Enhance the ongoing political dialogue between the Egyptian and the European Parliaments."

The European External Action Service (EEAS) describes the EU's position on Syria in these terms:
"The European Union (EU) stands by the Egyptian people in their ongoing efforts to achieve democracy, respect for human rights, social justice and security, and supports the country's roadmap to democracy."

The EEAS's website contains information on the following aspects of EU-Egypt relations:

• political relations
• economic relations
• trade relations
• science and technology
• EU joint programming.