MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Egypt, notably the case of Giulio Regeni

8.3.2016 - (2016/2608(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Cristian Dan Preda, Tomáš Zdechovský, Antonio Tajani, Tunne Kelam, Davor Ivo Stier, Andrej Plenković, Roberta Metsola, Eva Paunova, Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Andrey Kovatchev, Lorenzo Cesa, Claude Rolin, Patricija Šulin, Milan Zver, Mariya Gabriel, Giovanni La Via, Dubravka Šuica, Ivan Štefanec, Jaromír Štětina, Pavel Svoboda, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Thomas Mann, Elisabetta Gardini, Lara Comi, Stanislav Polčák, Ivana Maletić, Agnieszka Kozłowska-Rajewicz, Michaela Šojdrová, Massimiliano Salini, Romana Tomc, Sven Schulze, David McAllister, Csaba Sógor, Luděk Niedermayer, Anna Záborská, Joachim Zeller, Adam Szejnfeld, Jiří Pospíšil, Marijana Petir, Barbara Matera, Salvatore Cicu, Therese Comodini Cachia, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0338/2016

B8‑0371/2016

European Parliament resolution on Egypt, notably the case of Giulio Regeni

(2016/2608(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to its previous resolutions on Egypt, in particular of 15 January 2015 on the situation in Egypt,

-  having regard to the EU-Egypt Association Agreement of 2001, which entered into force in 2004, strengthened by the Action Plan of 2007; having regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy and the most recent progress report on Egypt of 25 March 2015,

-  having regard to the Constitution of Egypt, adopted by referendum on 14-15 January 2014,

-  having regard to Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, a binding treaty that Egypt ratified in 1982,

-  having regard to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human rights of 1950,

-  having regard to the Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas Giulio Regeni, a 28 years Old Italian citizen, who was studying for his PhD at Cambridge University, was missing in Cairo on January 25, the fifth anniversary of the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak, and found dead by the side of the Cairo- Alexandria road;

B.  whereas Giulio Regeni was apparently tortured before his death: he was burned, beaten, and mutilated, his nails had been ripped out and he suffered from broken ribs and a brain haemorrhage;

C.  whereas there were suspicions that Giulio Regeni was tortured systematically for up to seven days;

D.  whereas Egypt ordered a post-mortem examination before repatriating his body to Italy where Italian investigators performed their own post-mortem of which results have been postponed until the next week;

E.  whereas Egypt invited Italian investigators to code share the investigation with Egyptian counterparts and that on February 29th, the office of the Prosecutor General has provided the Italian Embassy in Cairo some documents related to the murder upon the request of the Italian side;

F.  whereas Egypt is a long-standing strategic partner for the European Union; whereas the EU level of engagement with Egypt should be incentive-based, in line with the “more for more” principle of the European Neighbourhood Policy, and depend on progress in reform of democratic institutions, the rule of law and human rights;

G.  whereas Egypt has gone through several difficult political challenges since the 2011 revolution and its democratic process is still ongoing; whereas the country is fighting terrorist threats and working for preserved stability;

H.  whereas the Egyptian Constitution adopted in 2014 is an important step in the democratic process; whereas the Constitution enshrines fundamental rights and freedoms including the right of life, right of physical and psychological integrity and freedom of expression;

I.   whereas the right of life, right of physical and psychological integrity and freedom of expression are crucial dimensions of the transition towards an open, free, democratic and prosperous Egyptian society; whereas fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right of life, right of physical and psychological integrity and freedom of expression, are enshrined in the Egyptian Constitution;

1.  Strongly condemns the torturing and assassination of the EU citizen Giulio Regeni under suspicious circumstances and expresses its deep sympathy and condolences to the family;

2.  Calls on the Egyptian Authorities to guarantee a complete and correct investigation of the death of Giulio Regeni and to punish the perpetrators of the crime in conformity with the criminal legislation in Egypt;

3.  Calls on the Egyptian Authorities to strengthen and continue the coordination with Italian Authorities, having in mind that the code share investigation is ongoing and has not reached a final conclusion towards what happened to lead to the murder of the Italian student and who are the perpetrators of the murder;

4.  Underlines the importance that the European Union attaches to its cooperation with Egypt as an important neighbour and partner;

5.  Stresses the important role of Egypt for stability in the region and supports Egypt in the process of strengthening its democratic institutions, democracy and he rule of law, respecting and defending human rights and promoting social justice and security;

6.  Considers that the new Constitution, approved on 14 and 15 January 2014, should be an important step forward in the country's transition to democracy;

7.  Urges the Egyptian Authorities and security forces to ensure the safety of all citizens, irrespective of their political views, affiliation or confession, to uphold the rule of law and respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to respect and fulfil the country's international obligations;

8.  Reminds the Egyptian Authorities of their national and international legal obligations, and calls upon them to prioritise the protection and promotion of human rights and ensure accountability for violations of human rights;

9.  Expresses its support towards the first initiative in modern history of Egypt who invited a foreign authority to share investigation with the Egyptian Authorities;

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the Governments and the Parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Egypt, the UN Secretary General and the UN Human Rights Council.