EU seeks special partnership with Egypt

The European Union (EU) and Egypt will hold a high-level meeting in Cairo on November 13 and 14 to boost their economic and political ties and cooperation, it was announced here Wednesday. "The idea is to build a very special partnership with Egypt and to convey a very strong message to build a new relationship with the new Egypt," Bernardino Leon, EU special representative for Southern Mediterranean region, told a press conference this afternoon giving details about the upcoming meeting. He explained that the EU has formed a new instrument called a Task Force, a kind of a working group, to enhance its ties with the Southern Mediterranean countries undergoing transition. It has already formed a task force for Tunisia and Jordan. "But this task force with Egypt is the most special task force and the most ambitious movement from the EU institutions and member states. Whatever happens in Egypt has a very important impact on the region," he stressed. Leon said "we have seen very bold movements from President Mursi to reinforce this transition to make it more democratic and open society in Egypt. " The two-day meeting will be divided into a political dialogue and an economic event. More than 130 European companies will be participating in the Business Forum together with European and international banks, including the Islamic Development Bank. The meeting will also discuss assets recovery of Egypt in Europe. The EU is trying to put new ideas to the Egyptian government on how to enhance their coordination, said Leon but did not give any details. The Egyptian side will be led by Prime Minister Hisham Kandil and the EU side by High Representative Catherine Ashton. Two EU Commissioners and five Members of the European Parliament will also participate. Civil societies and members of parliament will take part on the first day of the meeting. Leon however declined to give the amount of money that the EU will provide Egypt for economic development, saying that Ashton will announce the figure at a later date.