Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Egypt's PM reviews debt reduction strategy, eyes more private investment    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt, India discuss expanding industrial, investment partnerships    World Bank proposes Egypt join new global health initiative    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Egyptian pound ticks down in early Tuesday trading    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt exports 175K tons of food in one week    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, Uruguay eager to expand trade across key sectors    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



European Commission president has two items on agenda in Cairo: fair elections and economic aid
Published in Ahram Online on 05 - 07 - 2011

With no formal invitation from the Egyptian side for election observers, the European Commission president is due in Cairo 14 July to discuss economic assistance and fair elections
Jose Manuel Barrosso, president of the European Commission is expected in Cairo on 14 July for a two-day visit during which he is to discuss European economic assistance to Egypt during the transitional phase and beyond, according to a Brussels-based European official.
Francisco Gaztelu Mezquiriz of the EU Middle East Division told a group of Egyptian journalists in Brussels yesterday that Barosso's two-day visit comes as part of a European engagement with Egypt to help it manage the transitional phase and prepare for fair, transparent and truly pluralistic elections.
Barrosso is scheduled to meet top Egyptian officials from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the Egyptian government – including Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and Foreign Minister Mohamed El-Orabi.
Along with discussing economic assistance, Barrosso, according to Mezquiriz, will emphasise European willingness to provide Egypt with assistance for electoral preparations and monitoring.
"The request for observing the elections, however, has to come from the Egyptian authorities and until now [Monday, 4 July] we have received nothing," Mezquiriz added.
According to the European official, if Egypt is still planning to hold elections in by September the sooner the request is made, the better. "For elections observation to be prepared a request has to come forward in the next couple of weeks," Mezquiriz said. He clarified, though that if only the initiation of the electoral process occurs by end of September, then the request could come a little later.
Mezquiriz suggested that it would be rather encouraging if Egypt invites observes – not necessarily those of the EU – because it would be a clear sign of commitment to conduct free and fair elections. But he stopped short of saying that the position of the Egyptian authorities would be perceived negatively if observers are not invited.
"We understand that everything is in the making and ... things do not come overnight," Mezquiriz stated. He added, "I believe that these coming elections will be mostly free and fair."
According to Malgorzata Wasilewska, head of the EU Division for Democracy Support and Elections the Tunisian authorities had sent a request for experts and observers back in February, when elections were still scheduled for July (they are now postponed to October).
"We are on standby for Egypt and we ideally have to send an exploratory mission four months before the elections day and if the invitation comes now it would be challenging, but we will still be willing to send our teams," Wasilewska said.
She added, "I understand from [European officials] who haven to Egypt that Egyptian officials responded positively to suggestions for Egypt to send an invitation…Maybe there has been a second thought… I very much hope we would get an invitation."
According to the EU rules, a memorandum of understanding should be signed with the Egyptian authorities if an EU elections observation mission is to manifest itself. The memorandum would allow for observers to move freely and to meet with officials, politicians, candidates and voters.
Meanwhile, Mezquiriz said that the EU will be sending experts to provide practical and technical assistance for Egyptian government to help reform the security system and to provide Egyptian civil society with the techniques required for national observation of elections.
In any case, according to Wasilewska, "Domestic observers can cover the nation better than foreign observers and they have access to places where international observers would get."
A typical observation process starts from day one and includes observation of preparations and campaigning procedures. Accordingly, if the launch of elections would start on 30 September, as has been suggested in Cairo, then the EU observers would need to start arriving in Egypt shortly.


Clic here to read the story from its source.