Photo caption: Ms. Marisa Matias, Chair of the European Parliament (EP) Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, sits next to Mr. Ayman Elsherbiny, spokesperson of the EU delegation to Egypt.
The European Parliament (EP) has called for enhanced Egypt-EU cooperation, and a “political dialogue based on shared values, and respect for human rights” in its 12th inter-parliamentary meeting with Egypt’s parliament, according to an EP press statement.
Delegates from both parliaments met in Cairo on Tuesday and Wednesday, led by Ms. Marisa Matias, Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, and Mr. Kareem Darwish, Chair of Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Other European delegates included Mr. Gilles Pargneaux (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, France), Mr. Francesc Gambus (European People’s Party, Spain) and Mr. Javier Nart (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Spain).
They were received by Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmad Gamal Al Din, President of the National Council of Human Rights Mr. Mohammed Fayek, President of the National Council of Women Dr. Maya Morsy, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, Pope Tawadros II, and representatives from various civil society organisations.
Photo caption: Egyptian and EU delegates gather in the press conference.
The EP delegation emphasized Egyptian authorities’ need to deepen their “courageous” social and economic reforms within a democratic framework, the press release reads.
Delegates also called on the EU and Egypt to enhance their partnership, in hopes of overcoming common challenges and building a better future for each other’s citizens, “whose immense majority aspire to live in a free, safe, tolerant and pluralistic society”.
Such a partnership, the statement continues, also ought to foster a political dialogue based on shared values, respect of the rule of law, and international agreements.
In this spirit, the EP raised several cases to the Egyptian delegation of citizens whose rights, the statement claims, had been infringed.
It adds that delegates recalled that in both the EU and in Egypt, “sustainable development and security can only be achieved when human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and the right to peaceful dissent, are fully respected”.
Photo caption: Mr. Gilles Pargneaux, Vice Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, responds to questions by journalists.
At the end of the meeting, EP delegates thanked their Egyptian hosts for their hospitality and openness for dialogue, stressing the importance of cooperation with Egypt – which, the statement closes, is “a key partner for the EU”.
The inter-parliamentary meeting represents an ongoing dialogue between Egypt and the European Union, and follows Speaker Dr. Ali Abd el Aal’s visit to the EP in Brussels, last June.
