Check against delivery! 

Mr. President, Honourable Members [of the European Parliament],  

Let me start by stressing that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms constitutes a key element of European Union-Egypt relations.  

Our approach is to have a constructive engagement and achieve progress in the European Union-Egypt human rights dialogue, as this will help advance our partnership. In this regard, human rights are identified as an area of cooperation in the European Union-Egypt Partnership Priorities, which is the political framework of our partnership.  

The European Parliament Resolution in December 2020 and the [European Parliament] Resolution on the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) in October 2022, raised important points that we have sought to address in our work. 

We engage continuously with our Egyptian counterparts on the issue of human rights at all levels. The High Representative/Vice-President [Josep Borrell] last discussed human rights with Foreign Minister [of Egypt, Sameh] Shoukry during the ninth European Union-Egypt Association Council in June.  

Our engagement on human rights has facilitated the first visit of the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights [Eamon Gilmore] to Egypt in April this year. Plans for the effective implementation of Egypt’s national Human Rights Strategy were at the centre of all his discussions. The right to political dissent, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are a particular object of attention. 

The European Union’s Delegation in Cairo engages with civil society actors and human rights defenders, supports the work of civil society organisations, and reaches out to government officials.  At the same time, we engage in Brussels with Egyptian human rights activists, Egyptian and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), as well as the Egyptian Mission [to the European Union]. 

A year ago, Egypt published its first National Strategy on Human Rights. Its effective implementation and sustained progress are now of the essence. We are looking forward to the first-year review to take stock of the progress achieved.  

In the framework of the European Union-Egypt Association agreement, the subcommittee on political matters and human rights – scheduled for December – will be another opportunity to exchange in this regard.  

We welcome the personal commitment by President [Abdul Fatah] el-Sisi to progress in human rights, even in areas where this is controversial in Egypt. 

Meanwhile, we have also taken note of the reinstatement of the Presidential Pardon Committee and the subsequent number of prisoners’ releases. The European Union has called for the release of the remaining detained human rights defenders and journalists. 

In our engagements, we encourage Egyptian authorities to make sure that released detainees are fully reintegrated in the society at large. This is very important. 

In the run-up to COP27, we maintained that ensuring a meaningful participation of youth and NGOs was of the utmost importance. We have seen that civil society was given the space to discuss the challenges of climate change and also address human rights issues at COP27. This is something that we need to take positive note of and welcome. 

I thank you for your attention and I am looking forward to our exchange. 

Link to the video (starting at 1:20): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-233593 

Closing remarks  

Mr President, Honourable Members [of the European Parliament], 

Thank you very much for your interventions. We take very careful note of them.  

I would like to assure [to] you all that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is part and parcel of European Union-Egypt relations. There are issues that need to be addressed. This includes the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, this includes the [Giulio] Regeni case, among others. And, as for any other country, this is our continuous endeavour. The European Union will continue cooperating and engaging on human rights with Egypt, also after COP27.

The European Union has a clear interest to support Egypt in maintaining long-term stability and security. But, we, at the same time, very much believe that this can only be achieved if all aspects of human rights are fully implemented and upheld.  

We will further advance and strengthen our engagement with our Egyptian partners. We look forward to continuing this work – including in the upcoming established dialogue, which will take place in December in the form of the subcommittee on human rights.  

Thank you. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-233870