Gamal Bayoumi* takes stock of Egypt's partnership with the EU, and calls for speeding up the process When negotiations for the Egyptian-European partnership began in 1995, my colleagues on the Egyptian side and myself knew that we were engaged in a task with wide-ranging implications for Egyptians. The positions we took in these negotiations had the power of affecting -- negatively or positively -- the lives of many Egyptians, and we needed to balance the interests of many local groups. We had to find the best way for Egypt to benefit from the Barcelona Declaration of 1995, with its various political, economic and social aspects. This meant that we had to balance cost with interest, while maintaining a stance of full equality and mutual respect in negotiations. Such considerations found their way into the wording of the agreement, and as EU Commissioner Benita Ferraro-Waldner pointed out during her recent visit to Cairo, Europe doesn't want to be a teacher or a policeman, but a partner who can offer advice without dictating opinions. Egypt's decision to integrate into the international community and economy is a cornerstone of its social and economic policies. And yet some groups may be harmed by relaxing trade barriers, hence we had to respect the interests of such groups, while preventing them from obstructing the agreement through propaganda and lobbying. We engaged in painstaking dialogue with four groups, namely the businessmen, economic experts, the government and the EU. Hundreds of hearing sessions were held with businessmen who were affected by the negotiations with Europe, and the consultations offered us a wealth of experience and practical knowledge. I recall the valuable information which experts, officials and businessmen offered us, as well as the bonds of trust which developed at the time, between our team of negotiators and local interest groups. Discussions with experts, specialists and academics helped us formulate the needs of businessmen which had been identified during the domestic sessions of dialogue. We had to make sure that our requirements were stated in a feasible manner and were in line with standard practices in politics, economy and international trade. As for the government, it had to choose from available options, while arbitrating among local businessmen in cases where conflicting needs were voiced. Following tireless negotiations with the EU -- which lasted from July, 1995 until June, 1999 -- the partnership agreement was finally signed in June, 2001, but didn't go into effect until June, 2004. This was the longest period any country had taken in negotiating and implementing. While this was a sign of the delicacy of the internal debate, it was also an indication that we need to be more efficient and speedy on such matters. Through diligent efforts, we built trust with our European partners, some of whom offered us valuable advice and actively improved the terms of the agreement on our behalf. Over 10 years have passed since negotiations began and it is time to ask the following: have we achieved the full potential we had hoped for? Anyone who participated in the negotiations can point to the considerable increase in trade that has taken place since the agreement went into effect. One can also cite many development projects that have been implemented in education, training, scientific research, health, banking and other sectors. But we also have to look at the non-quantifiable outcome of the agreement, which has been substantial. Egypt's relations with the EU and Mediterranean countries have witnessed a revival over the past few years. We have benefited from the hundreds of sessions that were conducted and the research involved. These sessions have given us expertise that has proven beneficial to both the economy and the administration. The extensive regional cooperation which resulted from the Barcelona Declaration has had a great impact on the development of inter-Arab ties. The Agadir Declaration, which created a free trade zone among several Arab countries, was only one of the many benefits the EU partnership has brought about. In fact, many organisations involved in industry, agriculture and modernisation around the Arab world benefited from the partnership with Europe. With 27 member countries, a population of 480 million, and an annual income of over EUR10 trillion, the EU is the world's second largest economic power and largest trading block. And its markets are now open to us. Closer ties between Europe and the Mediterranean can boost peace, development and regional cooperation, while combating poverty, unemployment and terrorism. On 9 March, the third Egyptian-European Partnership Council met in Brussels to discuss further cooperation. These talks can give us advantages bordering on full EU membership and, if successful, could boost the negotiating power of the Euro- Mediterranean group in international relations. The EU has promised to finance an ambitious programme for bettering human resources, education, training, health and transportation in our region. We need to make sure that the gains from such a programme outweigh the costs, by keeping the following in mind. First, we need to stress the interdependence between free trade and the mobility of diplomats, officials, businessmen and other professionals. The repatriation of Egyptians, if things come to that, must be linked to the funding of economic and social development programmes. Free trade is pointless, without the freedom of travel and movement. Second, illegal immigration and repatriation should be discussed in conjunction with immigrant rights, and the rights of Egyptians residing legally in Europe. We should also discuss ways to improve border and passport control, as well as civil registry. Third, progress on the issue of intellectual property rights should go hand- in-hand with increased funding for anti- piracy programmes and for scientific research. Four, regarding the dialogue between cultures, we must all acknowledge that Islam is a religion of tolerance and that Muslims are not the enemies of any other faith. Finally, the EU's urge to expand to the East should not slow down its drive to cooperate with the South. Cooperation on all fronts is beneficial to all involved. Despite cultural disparities, EU and the North African countries -- including Egypt -- have invested much time and effort in enhancing their cooperation. And everyone involved is entitled to better security, stability and development. We have a serious task at hand, so let's move quickly this time. * The writer is secretary-general of the General Secretariat of the European-Egyptian Association Agreement.
