EU ministers to hold emergency meeting on Egypt

Series Title
Series Details 20.08.13
Publication Date 20/08/2013
Content Type

An extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council was convened on 21 August 2013 on the situation in Egypt.

In July and August 2013 the EU had deployed intense efforts to promote dialogue and a peaceful solution to the Egyptian crisis through its constant engagement with all parties - including during the visits by HRVP Ashton on 17 and 29-30 July 2013, and the action of the EU's Special Representative for the Southern Mediterranean, Bernardino Leon.

They had both reiterated on various occasions that Egypt needed a fully inclusive transition process, taking in all political groups, to reach free and fair elections and a civilian-led government. These elements were the necessary pre-conditions for a stable, prosperous and democratic Egypt.

However, in August 2013, events had unfolded in a tragic way, resulting in a dramatic loss of lives and many injured. The EU expressed strong concern and called on all parties to stop violence.

After the meeting on the 21 August 2013 it was announced that EU member states agreed to suspend export licences for any equipment that could be used for repression in Egypt, but humanitarian aid would continue. The EU would review its assistance to Egypt and was urging all sides to 'stop the violence and provocations' and 'engage in inclusive national dialogue, open to all'.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/eu-foreign-ministers-hold-emerge-news-529864
Related Links
ESO: Background information: EU diplomat: Egyptian army rejected peace plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-diplomat-egyptian-army-rejected-peace-plan/
European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/13/751: EU-Egypt relations http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-751_en.pdf
ESO: Background information: EU's top diplomat endeavours to resolve Egypt crisis amid NATO concerns http://www.europeansources.info/record/eus-top-diplomat-endeavours-to-resolve-egypt-crisis-amid-nato-concerns/
EUObserver, 19.08.13: EU diplomat: Both sides guilty in Egypt http://euobserver.com/foreign/121152
BBC News, 20.08.13: EU states debate response to Egypt's deadly crisis http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23775560
EEAS: Arab Republic of Egypt http://eeas.europa.eu/egypt/index_en.htm
EU: EEAS: Press Release, A426/13: Remarks by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on arrival at the extraordinary meeting of Foreign Affairs Council on Egypt http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/138597.pdf
Deutsche Welle, 20.08.13: The EU's balancing act in Egypt http://dw.de/p/19SrU
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 21.08.13: Council conclusions on Egypt http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/138599.pdf
Public Service Europe, 21.08.13: EU to review Egypt aid but protect 'most vulnerable' http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3977/eu-to-review-egypt-aid-but-protect-most-vulnerable
Spiegel Online International, 21.08.13: Sanctions Debate: EU Scrambles to Address Egyptian Violence http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/violence-in-egypt-eu-foreign-ministers-meet-to-debate-sanctions-a-917741.html
ECFR: Commentary, 16.08.13: Europe must recognise that Egypt is not moving to democracy http://ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_europe_must_recognise_that_egypt_is_not_moving_to_democracy
Süddeutsche Zeitung, 21.08.13: Europe is Egypt’s best chance (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/4074871-europe-egypt-s-best-chance
El Mundo, 22.08.13: No more EU weapons for Cairo (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/4077621-no-more-eu-weapons-cairo

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