Negotiations between Egypt and EU move close to bearing fruit

Date: 18/02/1999

By Simon Taylor

EU AND Egyptian officials believe that they are closer than ever to agreeing a major political and trade deal after nearly four years of difficult negotiations.

Sources on both sides said this week that they were optimistic that the terms for an association agreement - the closest ties a country can have with the EU short of becoming a member - could be agreed in time for a meeting of foreign ministers in Stuttgart in April.

Getting an agreement with Egypt is seen as an essential element of the EU's attempts to create a zone of prosperity and political stability in the Mediterranean, under the Barcelona process which started in 1995.

“Egypt is the biggest of the 12 EuroMed countries,” said one Egyptian official, who argued that without an agreement between the Union and his country, “this region cannot be what we are dreaming of”.

EU officials said foreign ministers would be asked to support a renewed push for a deal at their meeting next Monday (22 February).

They stressed, however, that despite progress on a number of trade issues at a negotiating session last week, political will would be needed at ministerial level to move ahead on some major problem areas.

Both sides singled out the human rights clause and special conditions to govern the readmission of illegal immigrants as key stumbling blocks. As in the recent negotiations with South Africa, Cairo has objected to the EU's demand for the right to suspend the entire agreement if Egypt fails to meet the Union's requirements on observing human rights. Cairo wants the accord to conclude a provision allowing for consultations before any decision to suspend the accord is put into effect.

The EU's insistence that Egypt should make a commitment to take back people of any nationality who have entered the Union illegally has also run into strong opposition in Cairo. “What is the logic?” asked one Egyptian official, pointing out that his country had never been a major transit point for migrants trying to enter Europe.

Both sides stand to benefit from major trade concessions if the political obstacles to a deal can be lifted. Cairo has already agreed to phase out Egyptian import tariffs on industrial goods within 12-15 years in return for better access to EU markets for Egyptian farm exports.

Cairo argues that the Union's offer on import quotas for key products such as oranges, rice and cut flowers is unacceptably low because it is based on past sales to Europe. Egypt has not traditionally been a major supplier to the Union.

Despite the difficulties involved in securing extra trade concessions in the highly politically sensitive area of agriculture, officials remain confident that a deal can be struck by April. “We have set many deadlines before, but Stuttgart seems like a realistic one for the first time,” said one.