Europa & Palestine News « Europa & Middle East News
Oct. 22 1013 – EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, meeting in Luxembourg on 21 October during a Foreign Affairs Council, discussed and adopted conclusions on the special report of the European Court of Auditors concerning EU cooperation with Egypt in the field of governance issued in June 2013.
The Council thanked the Court of Auditors for the publication of the Report and welcomed its efforts to assess the European Commission’s and European External Action Services’ (EEAS) work to promote good governance in Egypt before and after the events of 2011. Ministers shared the Court’s acknowledgement that, before the 2011 uprising, the Commission managed to include a number of human rights and democracy issues in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) EU–Egypt Action Plan for reforms and also made this area one of its priorities for ENPI assistance. They also concurred with the Court’s appreciation that the ENP review in 2011 marked a significant effort by the Commission and EEAS to improve the effectiveness of EU support.
In considering the Court’s observations, the Council stressed the importance of recognising the complex political and institutional context in Egypt during the whole reporting period (2007-2012), while stressing that also in such conditions effectiveness remains key. However, the Council highlighted that the effectiveness of EU actions also depends on the local and regional political environment and comes in combination with the authorities’ commitment in the area.
In this regard, the Council commended the EU’s continuous efforts to establish and maintain a dialogue and cooperation on the difficult issues of governance, democracy and human rights, including rights for women and minorities. It also noted with satisfaction the strengthening of the partnership with civil society, including through the launch of the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility. The Council also encouraged the EEAS and the Commission to further develop the political dialogue in order to ensure the implementation of jointly agreed reform objectives.
With regards to the Court’s recommendations aiming at improving the effectiveness of EU policy dialogue on governance and strengthening the management of the budget support instrument in Egypt, the Council acknowledged that a majority of these recommendations have already been acted upon since the reporting period, most notably that the Commission has significantly strengthened its internal rules for granting budget support and that the new rules are effective since 1 January 2013.
EU Adopts Governance Cooperation With Egypt
بدوية إسرائيلية تستقيل من إحدى السفارات الفلسطينية
الرئيس فيشر يستقبل رئيس الجمهورية اللبنانية في زيارة عمل رسمية
غضب عارم يلاحق أحد سفراء فلسطين
الرئيس فيشر يستقبل رئيس الجمهورية اللبنانية في زيارة عمل رسمية
غضب عارم يلاحق أحد سفراء فلسطين
Oct. 22 1013 – EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, meeting in Luxembourg on 21 October during a Foreign Affairs Council, discussed and adopted conclusions on the special report of the European Court of Auditors concerning EU cooperation with Egypt in the field of governance issued in June 2013.The Council thanked the Court of Auditors for the publication of the Report and welcomed its efforts to assess the European Commission’s and European External Action Services’ (EEAS) work to promote good governance in Egypt before and after the events of 2011. Ministers shared the Court’s acknowledgement that, before the 2011 uprising, the Commission managed to include a number of human rights and democracy issues in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) EU–Egypt Action Plan for reforms and also made this area one of its priorities for ENPI assistance. They also concurred with the Court’s appreciation that the ENP review in 2011 marked a significant effort by the Commission and EEAS to improve the effectiveness of EU support.
In considering the Court’s observations, the Council stressed the importance of recognising the complex political and institutional context in Egypt during the whole reporting period (2007-2012), while stressing that also in such conditions effectiveness remains key. However, the Council highlighted that the effectiveness of EU actions also depends on the local and regional political environment and comes in combination with the authorities’ commitment in the area.
In this regard, the Council commended the EU’s continuous efforts to establish and maintain a dialogue and cooperation on the difficult issues of governance, democracy and human rights, including rights for women and minorities. It also noted with satisfaction the strengthening of the partnership with civil society, including through the launch of the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility. The Council also encouraged the EEAS and the Commission to further develop the political dialogue in order to ensure the implementation of jointly agreed reform objectives.
With regards to the Court’s recommendations aiming at improving the effectiveness of EU policy dialogue on governance and strengthening the management of the budget support instrument in Egypt, the Council acknowledged that a majority of these recommendations have already been acted upon since the reporting period, most notably that the Commission has significantly strengthened its internal rules for granting budget support and that the new rules are effective since 1 January 2013.
In line with relevant Council conclusions and principles of the renewed ENP, the Council encourages the EEAS and the Commission to continue their efforts in applying the incentive-based approach, with countries making greater efforts towards democratic reforms receiving more support, underlining the importance for the EEAS and the Commission to place more emphasis on Public Finance Management and the fight against corruption in the negotiations for a new Action Plan, in particular in relation to guaranteeing budgetary transparency and fully independent external auditing.
Mindful of the socioeconomic needs of the Egyptian people, the Council underlined the importance of continued assessment of EU assistance to Egypt in line with the Court’s recommendations, in order to ensure that this assistance is fully effective. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
Mindful of the socioeconomic needs of the Egyptian people, the Council underlined the importance of continued assessment of EU assistance to Egypt in line with the Court’s recommendations, in order to ensure that this assistance is fully effective. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
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