Press Release: Joint Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the Egyptian NGO trial verdicts

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, and Commissioner Štefan Füle on 5 June 2013 expressed their concern at the recent Court ruling in Egypt sentencing the 43 employees of foreign NGOs referred to trial in December 2011 to between one and five years in jail.

They reiterated the EU's commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that an NGO law, fully in line with international standards and Egypt's commitments under international human rights law, is adopted.