The Foreign Ministry has rejected the conclusions adopted at the end of the meeting of foreign ministers of European Union countries in Brussels Monday. It issued a statement on the same day voicing this rejection and pointing to the positive and negative conclusions in the press release issued after the meeting. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Badr Abdel-Atti pointed to positive points like underlining the strong relations that bind Egypt and the EU, hailing some articles in the constitution, and condemning violence and terrorist acts that recently took place. In the press release issued after the meeting, the EU regarded Egypt as “an important neighbour and partner” and “reaffirms the importance of its relationship with Egypt and the continued support it gives to the Egyptian people in their desire to establish a democratic and prosperous society”. It regarded the adoption of the new constitution as an important step achieved in Egypt's political roadmap. The EU also condemned in clear terms all acts of violence and the loss of life during the constitutional referendum and the third anniversary of the 2011 revolution. It also denounced the violence in Sinai in strong terms. At the same time, Abdel-Atti said that the EU press release included other negative points that reflect that “the EU is not aware of what is happening on the ground, in spite of all official and popular efforts to cast light on the situation in Egypt, or is deliberately ignoring it, and this reflects a certain political inclination on its part rather than a mere concern about democracy or human rights issues”. Abdel-Atti noted that the most dangerous thing is that the EU and the European Parliament gave themselves the right to judge or assess political and societal developments and interfere in the transitional process and in what should Egypt do to achieve its target, namely democracy. “The Egyptian people who launched two revolutions reject that approach. I call on the EU to respect the aspirations and will of the people and the track they chose for themselves,” Abdel-Atti added. Another diplomat who talked on condition of anonymity said that the EU still thinks it can play the role of advisor or “big brother” to Egypt. “It still gives itself the right to tell us what we should and what we should not do,” he said. In the press release, the EU deplored the absence of a “fully inclusive” political process and the lack of attempts to overcome the “polarisation” of society. “It is now important that the remaining steps of the roadmap are implemented, in particular by finalising the electoral cycle, the media code of ethics, empowering youth in the political process and the establishment of a higher commission for national reconciliation,” the EU's statement read. The EU also expressed concern about the deteriorating human rights situation, including the indiscriminate detention of political opposition figures and activists. Freedoms of expression, assembly and peaceful protest must be safeguarded, the EU said. It also deplored the deteriorating climate for the press. It called upon Egyptian interim authorities and state media to ensure a safe working environment for all journalists and to end politicised arrests as well as intimidation of and incitement against domestic and foreign journalists. British Foreign Secretary William Hague discussed the issue of press freedom during Brussels meeting along with his German and Dutch counterparts, in reference to the indictment of a group of Al-Jazeera journalists — including two Britons and a Dutch national. At the end the EU press release, the EU reconfirmed the conclusions of 21 August 2013 given by the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Following the ouster of Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, the council decided in August to suspend all export licences for equipment that could be use for internal repression. The situation in Egypt was also discussed during a European Parliament meeting last week, addressing the referendum and press freedoms during the debate. The EU body issued a resolution at the end of the meeting. Abdel-Atti criticised the content of the European Parliament's resolution. He said it was not appropriate for any foreign or domestic body to comment on a judicial process in Egypt, referring to comments made by some members of the parliament during the session. In their meeting last month in Brussels, EU foreign ministers hailed the adoption of Egypt's 2014 Constitution. However, they regarded the 38.6 per cent turnout as middling. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said of the referendum ahead of the meeting: “It's a high percentage voting. It's a turnout I would have liked to have seen even higher.” Ashton highlighted the need to follow the roadmap “in terms of elections and to try and be as inclusive as possible in terms of bringing all Egyptian people who support democracy and who support the future of Egypt into the political framework”. The EU has been following developments in Egypt closely. Ashton has visited Egypt several times after Morsi's ouster; she was one of the diplomats who tried to facilitate dialogue between the opposing political factions in Egypt. Ashton was also the first foreign diplomat to visit Morsi while held in detention in an undisclosed location. Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi, meanwhile, concluded a European tour that took him to Italy, Germany and the Netherlands in which he discussed with his European counterparts the situation in Egypt, among other regional issues. Abdel-Atti said Egypt is keen on maintaining a partnership with the EU, but that “this relation should be based on mutual respect and mutual interests and should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the other.” “Any attempt to impose anything on Egypt or direct it will fail,” he added.
