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THE EU INTENSIFIES TIES WITH THE
EGYPTIAN CIVIL SOCIETY
IN FEBRUARY 2007
During February, the Delegation of the European
Commission in Egypt will hold a series of events with
the Egyptian civil society. The events aim at
strengthening the existing mechanism of dialogue and
co-operation with the civil society, as well as raising
awareness of past and on-going activities and funding
opportunities for civil society organisations.
The events kicked-off by a meeting between H.E. Dr. Ali
El Mosselhi, Minister of Social Solidarity, and H.E. Dr.
Klaus Ebermann, Ambassador of the Delegation of the
European Commission in Egypt, on 1 February. Discussions
tackled the different norms of European Commission
support to the civil society in Egypt.
The European Commission supports the civil society both
within its bilateral co-operation programme as well as
through thematic budget lines, notably the European
Initiative for Democratisation and Human Rights (EIDHR)
and NGOs co-financing. Within the field of development
co-operation, the European Commission supports Egyptian
NGOs within a number of programmes, including the €20
million Children at Risk programme; the programmes in
Financial and Investment Sector Co-operation (the €17
million Social component and the €18 million Rural
component); the €64 million South Sinai Regional
Development programme; as well as Cultural activities
programmes. In the field of democracy and human rights,
the European Commission is providing a €5 million grant
to the Egyptian General Federation of NGOs and
Foundations and to the Ombudsman offices of the National
Council for Women, and the National Council for Human
Rights.
Following the meeting with the Minister of Social
Solidarity, Ambassador Ebermann will hold a series of
field trips to EC-funded civil society projects in Minya,
Cairo, Alexandria and Aswan. Ambassador Ebermann will
visit Minya on 12-13 February; Cairo on 14 February;
Alexandria on 15 February; and Aswan on 11-12 March.
Furthermore, Ambassador Ebermann will inaugurate on 19
February a kick-off meeting of the projects funded under
thematic budgetlines EIDHR and NGO co-financing. The
objective of the kick-off meeting is to review the work
plans as well as other issues related to the
implementation of the contracts. Following calls for
proposals launched in 2006, 15 contracts have been
signed with Egyptian NGOs. Finally, on 21 February
Ambassador Ebermann will inaugurate a kick-off meeting
with the successful bidders to last years’ call for
proposal for cultural activities.
ENDS
Contact: Germaine Demian
Press and Information Officer
Delegation of the European Commission in Egypt
Tel:3749 46 80 (ext: 222)
germaine.demian@cec.eu.int |
