Summary: 25 June 2012, Luxembourg - Council of the European Union 3179th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting conclusions on Egypt
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
1. "The EU welcomes the peaceful conduct of Presidential elections and congratulates Mohammed Morsi on his election as President of Egypt. The EU congratulates the Egyptian people for this significant milestone in Egypt's democratic transition and historic moment for the people, the country and the region. The EU looks forward to working with President Morsi and welcomes his statement that he intends to form an inclusive government that governs on behalf of all the Egyptian people and reaches out to all political and social groups.
2. The EU reiterates its full support to Egypt's democratic transition and underlines the need for a full and swift hand-over to civilian authorities, and recalls previous commitments in this regard. The EU stresses the fundamental importance of the democratic process and institutions and separation of powers, as well as the duty to respect the rule of law and to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including freedoms of expression, assembly, and religion or belief. In this context, the EU recalls the important role of an active and independent civil society as a key component of any democratic society.
3. The EU is seriously concerned about recent developments, in particular the dissolution of the Parliament and the Constitutional Declaration by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of 17 June, which delay and hinder the transition and full handover to civilian rule.
4. The EU emphasises the importance of an inclusive and transparent drafting process of Egypt's new Constitution, which should reflect the aspirations of the Egyptian people for dignity and justice by ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and safeguard the democratic separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers.
5. The EU stresses that security and public order should be maintained with restraint and full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. While the end of the State of Emergency on 31 May was an important step forward, the EU is concerned about the decree issued on 13 June granting the military broad powers of arrest and detention of civilians for a wide range of offenses.
6. The EU fully recognizes the serious social and economic challenges Egypt is facing and reiterates the EU's readiness to provide assistance, in close partnership with Egypt's new democratic authorities in coordination with the international community. In this context, the EU underlines the importance for Egypt to engage in the necessary social and economic reforms, to allow the effective use of available international assistance and to improve the business environment.
7. Egypt remains a key partner in the region. The EU stresses therefore the importance of Egypt's continued commitment to the goal of building stability, peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean and Middle East region.".
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