the eu egyptian partnership :: essays research papers

A new round of EU - Egyptian association agreement negotiations started in Cairo with the objective of ratifying an agreement between the two sides. During their two-day deliberations the two sides will discuss three main issues, covering "renovation of industry, the exports, rules of origin (the original source of the production) and agriculture." A comprehensive report will be submitted on the results of the meetings which will conclude today to the political leadership in Egypt and the European Union to take the proper decision concerning pending issues, foremost being agricultural issues. The Egyptian side is led by chief of the partnership unity at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Gamal al Bayoumi, and the EU by the head of unity, Peter Zingle Taking part in the session were a number of negotiators in all matters debated for discussions, especially agricultural issues. It is expected that number of these issues will be totally settled at the end of the meetings, and a number of agricultural issues will be left for decisions to be taken on the political level by the European and Egyptian sides. The new round of negotiations for Egyptian partnership with the European Union, is to be held in Cairo, on November 9 - 12. Egypt's assistant foreign minister and chairman of Egyptian - European partnership, Gamal Bayoumi, said that the new talks are aimed at resolving as many issues as possible, so the EU and Egypt can submit subjects that are not settled yet to their political leadership. Despite grave shortcomings in environmental provisions, the EU's association and trade agreement with Egypt has been adopted at the EU's General Council meeting in Luxembourg from 21-22 June 1999, warns Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE), a federation of independent environmental groups in 29 countries. The association agreement now needs to be reviewed in a high-level ministerial committee in Egypt, then to be signed in autumn and afterwards ratified in the 15 EU national parliaments and the European Parliament. 'At this stage we will call upon government representatives in the EU and in the Egyptian government not to sign the agreement. Deficiencies in environmental protection measures first need to be rectified so that an association agreement will lead to the benefit for the people and the environment', says Alexandra Wandel, Trade and Sustainability expert of FoEE. 'The EU committed itself in various EU and international agreements to incorporate environmental considerations int o all its community policies. The EU does not live up to its commitments in the association agreement with Egypt.