EuroMed Rights, together with six other NGOs, sent on February 19, 2020 a joint letter calling for a comprehensive review of the EU’s relations with Egypt to the President of the European Council Charles Michel, the High Representative of the EU Josep Borrell and the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi.
The severe deterioration and crackdown of human rights in Egypt after the September demonstrations against high-level corruption in government was met by silence from the EU. Thus, we urge the EU authorities to use all instruments at their disposal to urgently halt this abusive trend and better engage with Egypt on protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law and combatting impunity.
We specifically ask the EU to:
- Reaffirm that ‘human rights, democracy and the rule of law ’ are central elements in the EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities;
- Conduct a public and comprehensive review of the European Commission’s budget support to Egypt and ensure that EU funds do not contribute to human rights violations;
- Ensure that human rights and civil society are key components of the EU’s financial and economic engagement with Egypt;
- Ensure public and transparent reporting on EU Member States arms exports to Egypt and export controls for goods that could be used for internal repression;
- Step up the EU’s engagement on Egypt at the UN Human Rights Council;
- Confront Egypt’s attempts to undermine the effectiveness and independence of the UN and other international human rights mechanism;
- Put high-ranking Egyptian officials on notice that the EU stands ready to address serious and systemic human rights violations in light of the European Parliament resolution of 24 October 2019.
Read the joint letter: click here.