A European Union flag flies in front of Union Jack flags in London, Britain, September 13, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
CAIRO – 11 December 2018: The European Commission issued a report Monday on the cooperation between the EU and Egypt in the fields of socio-economic development, scientific research, energy, migration, countering terrorism and regional issues.
The report praised the steps taken by the Egyptian government to realize the goals set under the Partnership Priorities 2017-2020, adopted during the EU-Egypt Association Council in July 2017. The report included positive quotes for EU officials, High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.
Here is the full report issued by the European Commission:
Report on EU-Egypt relations: Investing in socio-economic development and inclusive growth
Brussels, 10 December 2018
The EU and Egypt undertook closer cooperation in many areas, notably on socio-economic development, scientific research, energy, migration, countering terrorism and regional issues.
The report on the partnership between the EU and Egypt for the period from June 2017 to May 2018 was issued today and highlights key developments in EU-Egypt cooperation with a particular focus on achieving the objectives set under the Partnership Priorities 2017-2020, adopted during the EU-Egypt Association Council in July 2017.
High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "Egypt, its stability and development are key to the European Union, its Member States, and the entire region. That is why we signed our partnership priorities last year and reinforced our already strong engagement with and for the Egyptian people. We are determined to continue our work, together, to address all the challenges we have to face, for the sake of our citizens."
Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn added: "In the last year we stepped up our action to support Egypt reforming its economy, working for a sustainable and inclusive growth. For the EU it is imperative that the young generation, women and the most vulnerable members of the society are included in this process. The EU will continue to support Egypt tackling socio-economic challenges and will keep working together for the stability and prosperity of the region."
During the reporting period, the EU's commitment vis-à-vis Egypt was reaffirmed through regular political dialogues, bilateral visits by the EU and Egyptian sides and continued implementation of the EU's financial assistance.
Egypt also continued to engage as a regional player on key regional and international issues, notably in the perspective of its African Union presidency next year, such as the Middle East Peace Process, Syria, Libya, Africa, the situation in Gulf and the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
Overall, the conclusions of the report show that the implementation of priority areas is well on track, with notable challenges remaining in particular in the field of the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms and space for civil society. The next EU-Egypt Association Council that will be held in Brussels on 20 December will be the occasion to further discuss the EU-Egypt partnership for the months ahead.
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The overall EU financial assistance commitments to Egypt amount to over €1,3 billion in grants. This amount mainly targets social development and jobs creation, infrastructure, renewable energy, water, and sanitation/waste management, environment, but it also supports the improvement of governance, human rights, justice, and public administration reform in Egypt.
Through the multiannual programme Facility for Inclusive Growth and Job Creation, the EU supports the business enabling environment and promote economic reforms in favor of enterprises, including easier access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The EU is also promoting labor-intensive community services and public works as an effective and well-targeted social safety net. Via the EU programme Emergency Employment Investment Project (EEIP) completed in January 2018, more than 50,000 young people, many of them women, have acquired new skills and been given access to jobs. Nearly 10,000 of them have received specific support to get permanent jobs or start their own business.
A number of high-level visits and meetings contributed to enhance the partnership between the EU and Egypt in 2017-2018 and to discuss regional and international issues of concern.
Those include meetings between Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi and the President of the European Council Donald Tusk in September 2017; High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini's meetings with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry in the margins of various international forums; the visit of Commissioner for the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, in October 2017, to reaffirm EU's support to Egypt's migration management inside and outside its borders with the signature of a €60 million programme under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa; the visit of Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, in April 2018 during which he signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation; and the launch by Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, in December 2017* of the EU-Egypt Migration Dialogue, aimed at improving bilateral cooperation and discussions on the overall topic of migration.
A further step in EU-Egypt cooperation includes the signing of an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation for Egypt's participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) in October 2017.
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