|
COMMISSIONER FERRERO-WALDNER
PRESENTS
€558 MILLION ASSISTANCE PACKAGE DURING HER VISIT TO
EGYPT
Commissioner for External Relations and the European
Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, is
presenting today in Cairo the assistance package that
the European Commission is proposing for Egypt under the
European Neighbourhood Policy over the next four years.
The focus of the package is to support the reform
process and the implementation of the EU-Egypt ENP
Action Plan which will be adopted during the EU-Egypt
Association Council meeting that will take place in
Brussels on 6th March. The Action Plan sets out the
priorities for co-operation in a wide range of sectors
jointly agreed between the EU and Egypt. These are based
on Egypt’s own reform agenda in the economic, social and
political areas. This €558 million package, which
includes €58 million in interest rates subsidies that
could attract in addition an estimated amount of
€250-300 million in loans, announced during the European
Commissioner's visit to Egypt , demonstrates the EU's
commitment to support Egypt in its national priorities
and reforms. Egypt is one of the main beneficiaries of
EU support in the region and the EU is the second
largest donor to Egypt.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner emphasised: “I am glad that
we have concluded negotiations with Egypt on a European
Neighbourhood Action Plan. This will allow us to open
the next chapter in our relationship, deepening our
partnership in a number of key fields of interest to us
both. With the financial package I am proposing, and the
many advantages available under the Neighbourhood
Policy, we are offering very significant new
opportunities to Egypt, and supporting Egypt's own
reform programme.”
The European Commission assistance to Egypt from 2007 to
2010 will focus on the following areas:
-
Support for the implementation of
the Action Plan: supporting reform processes in
Egypt through targeted assistance in areas such as
trade, customs, agriculture, transport, energy and
science, including co-operation in legal migration,
border management and visa facilitation.
-
Sustainable development and
management of human and natural resources:
supporting reforms in the education and health
sectors, which are crucial for the sustainable
development of the country. In order to attract
investments in key sectors, such as energy,
transport and environment, €58 million will be set
aside to subsidise loans, in particular from the
European Investment Bank, which could attract an
estimated €250-300 million in loans.
-
Reforms in the areas of
democracy, human rights and justice: supporting
Egypt's own political reform agenda is a key feature
of this new aid package.
In addition to this bilateral
financial package, the European Commission has proposed
many other new opportunities under the ENP which will be
available to Egypt:
-
Neighbourhood Investment Fund,
which will allow access to considerably increased
funds for Egyptian industry and infrastructure by
providing support to lending from international
financial organisations.
-
Governance Facility for those
countries moving ahead with the implementation of
agreed Action Plan reforms.
-
People to people exchange and
reinforced co-operation on education such as
participation in the Erasmus Mundus programme and
its scholarships and the Tempus programme for
co-operation on higher education,
-
Scientific and technological
co-operation. Egypt will participate in the EU’s
Seven Framework Programme for Research and
Development (RTD).
-
Cross-border co-operation
programme which will aim at bringing border regions
in EU Member States and in the partner countries
together and fostering their co-operation.
-
Participation in Community
programmes and agencies. Possibilities of enhanced
cooperation with European agencies, such as the
European Environment Agency and the European Food
and Safety Agency, will be examined
Background
The European Neighbourhood Policy aims to intensify
relations and promote progressive integration between
the European Union and its neighbours. The ENP offers
economic and social benefits for the countries that
border the EU, through co-operation in a range of areas
from strengthening democracy, promoting rule of law, and
upholding human rights, to trade liberalisation, energy,
and transport development. The EU and its neighbours
mutually agree on Action Plans that are very concrete
and helpful tools to realize the goals of the ENP.
The Financial instrument established to channel the ENP
assistance is the European Neighbourhood and Partnership
Instrument that as from 2007 has replaced the former
instrument, MEDA. The MEDA aid to Egypt from 1996 to
2006 amounted €1.1 billion. The funds allocated to Egypt
for 2007-2010 means an increase compared to the previous
period.
For more information on the EU's relations with Egypt
and on the ENP at
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/egypt/intro/index.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/index_en.htm
ENDS
Contact: Germaine Demian
Press and Information Officer
Delegation of the European Commission in Egypt
Tel:3749 46 80
germaine.demian@cec.eu.int
http://www.eu-delegation.org.eg |
