Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be adopted by the European Community and its Member States within the Association Council established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of a Recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Egypt Action Plan
Date: 2006-06-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Association Council (EU), EU Member State, Egypt, association agreement (EU)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 7.6.2006 
COM(2006) 282 final 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the position to be adopted by the European Community and its Member States  
within the Association Council established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement 
establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member 
States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, with regard to 
the adoption of a Recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Egypt Action Plan 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The 2002 Copenhagen European Council, closing accession negotiations with ten new States, 
recognised that enlargement presented an important opportunity to take forward relations with 
neighbouring  countries  based  on  shared  values,  and  stated  that  the  Union  remained 
determined  to  avoid  new  dividing  lines  in  Europe  and  to  promote  stability  and  prosperity 
within and beyond the new borders of the Union. 

The  Commission  Communication  “Wider  Europe  -  Neighbourhood:  A  New  Framework  for 
Relations  with  our  Eastern  and  Southern  Neighbours”  of  March  20031  proposed  the 
establishment of Action Plans with partner countries. On 16 June 2003, the Council welcomed 
this Communication and invited the Commission, with the contribution, where appropriate, of 
the High Representative, to present proposals for Action Plans for all countries concerned as 
appropriate, commencing with Ukraine, Moldova, and Southern Mediterranean partners with 
Association Agreements. 

On  14  June  2004,  the  Council  welcomed  the  Commission  Communication  “European 
Neighbourhood  Policy  –  Strategy  Paper”2.  The  Council  also  welcomed  the  Commission 
proposal  to  pursue  the  European  Neighbourhood  Policy  (ENP)  through  Action  Plans  to  be 
agreed  jointly  with  the  neighbouring  countries  concerned  and  invited  the  Commission  to 
propose  such  Action  Plans.  The  Council  also  defined  how  to  advance  and  monitor 
implementation of action plans.  

The Commission Communication of December 20043 submitted to the Council for approval a 
first  set  of  draft  Action  Plans  while  the  Commission  Communication  of  March  20054 
submitted  the  Country  Reports  for  Armenia,  Azerbaijan,  Georgia,  Lebanon  and  Egypt 
recommending  the  starting  of  negotiations  for  the  drawing  up  of  Action  Plans  with  these 
countries. On 16 and 17 June 2005, the Council welcome the decision to establish action plans 
with the above mentioned countries.  

The  Commission,  in  close  cooperation  with  the  Presidency  and  the  High  Representative  on 
issues  related  to  political  cooperation  and  the  CFSP,  has  held  exploratory  talks  with  Egypt 
which have resulted in agreement on a draft Action Plan. It covers a timeframe of three to five 
years. Its implementation will help fulfil the provisions in the Association Agreement and will 
contribute to an increasingly close relationship with Egypt, involving a significant degree of 
economic integration and a deepening of political co-operation. Implementation of the Action 
Plan will significantly advance the approximation of Egypt’s legislation, norms and standards 
to those of the European Union. 

The Action Plan is a broad tool for economic and political co-operation, carrying to a further 
stage the commitments and objectives contained in the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement. 

In accordance with the Council Conclusions of 14 June 2004, stipulating that the Action Plans 
will be approved by the Council and subsequently endorsed by the respective Association or 
Co-operation Councils, the Commission attaches the text of a proposal for a Council Decision 

1 
2 
3 
4 

COM(2003) 104. 
COM(2004) 373. 
COM(2004) 795. 
COM(2005) 72. 

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on the position to be taken by the European Community and its Member States within the EU-
Egypt  Association  Council  with  regard  to  the  adoption  of  a  Recommendation  on  the 
implementation of the Action Plan in annex.  

The Commission therefore requests the Council to adopt the attached proposal for a Council 
Decision. 

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Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the position to be adopted by the European Community and its Member States  
within the Association Council established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement 
establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member 
States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, with regard to 
the adoption of a Recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Egypt Action Plan 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to Article 2(1) of the Council and Commission Decision 2004/635/EC, ECSC 
of  21  April  2004  on  the  conclusion  of  a  Euro-Mediterranean  Agreement  between  the 
European Communities and their Member States,  of the one  part, and the Arab  Republic of 
Egypt, of the other part; 

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Article 15 thereof; 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission5; 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European 
Communities  and  their  Member  States,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  Arab  Republic  of 
Egypt, of the other part, was signed on 25 June 2001 and entered into force on 1 June 
2004. 

The  Parties  intend  to  agree  on  an  EU-Egypt  Action  Plan,  which  will  support  the 
implementation  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Agreement  through  the  elaboration  and 
agreement of concrete steps towards attainment of its objectives. 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Sole Article 

The  position  to  be  adopted  by  the  European  Community  and  its  Member  States  within  the 
Association  Council  established  by  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Agreement  establishing  an 
association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and 
the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, with regard to the implementation of the EU-
Egypt  Action  Plan  shall  be  based  on  the  draft  Recommendation  of  the  Association  Council 
annexed to this Decision. 

5 

OJ C […] […], p. […]. 

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Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX  
draft 
RECOMMENDATION 

on the implementation of the EU-Egypt Action Plan  

The EU/Egypt Association Council, 

Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the 
European Communities and their Member States,  of the one  part, and the Arab  Republic of 
Egypt, of the other part, and in particular Article 76 thereof, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

Article  76  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Agreement  gives  the  Association  Council  the 
power  to  make  appropriate  recommendations,  for  the  purposes  of  attaining  the 
objectives of the Agreement.  

In terms of Article 86 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, the Parties shall take any 
general  or  specific  measures  required  to fulfil  their  obligations  under  the  Agreement 
and shall see to it that the objectives set out in the Agreement are attained. 

The Parties to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement have agreed on the text of the EU-
Egypt Action Plan. 

The EU-Egypt Action Plan will support the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean 
Agreement  through  the  elaboration  and  agreement  between  the  Parties  of  concrete 
steps which will provide practical guidance for such implementation. 

The Action Plan serves the dual purpose of setting out concrete steps in bringing the 
fulfilment  of  the  Parties’  obligations  set  out  in  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Agreement, 
and of providing a broader framework for further strengthening EU-Egypt relations to 
involve  a  significant  measure  of  economic  integration  and  a  deepening  of  political 
cooperation,  in  accordance  with  the  overall  objectives  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean 
Agreement. 

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION: 

Sole Article 

The Association Council recommends that the Parties implement the EU-Egypt Action Plan 
in annex, insofar as such implementation is directed towards attainment of the objectives of 
the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement.  

Done at [...] 

For the Association Council 

The President 

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ANNEX 
EU/EGYPT ACTION PLAN 

1. Introduction  

The Arab Republic of Egypt and the European Union as key partners and, near neighbours, 
reaffirm their commitment to deepen their political, economic and social relations on the basis 
of their close cooperation and strategic partnership that has developed in the last few decades 
and  within  the  framework  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership  and  the  Association 
Agreement  embodying  the  objectives  and  principles  of  the  Barcelona  Declaration,  and 
complementing its multilateral process.  

The  evolving  regional  and  international  context  of  Egypt-EU  relations  has  fostered  greater 
scope for cooperation. On the one hand, the enlargement of the EU on 1 May 2004 which has 
brought a historical shift for the Union in political, geographic and economic terms, paved the 
way for the European Neighbourhood Policy that aims to deepen the EU’s relations with its 
neighbouring countries to the East and South. On the other hand, Egypt continues to pursue its 
dynamic  foreign  policy  aiming  to  strengthen  its  relations  with  its  international  partners  in 
particular  the  EU,  its  commitment  to  further  integration  with  the  global  economy,  and  its 
efforts  for  further  political  and  economic  development  and  modernization.  Thus,  a  major 
opportunity  has  evolved  for  Egypt  and  the  EU  to  further  develop  their  strategic  partnership 
through  an  increasingly  close  and  enhanced  relationship.  This  will  involve  a  significant 
degree  of  economic  integration  and  deepening  of  political,  cultural  and  social  co-operation, 
aiming to promote peace, stability, security, growth, development and prosperity in the Euro-
Mediterranean region as well as modernization of the Egyptian economy and society.  

In  this  regard,  the  Action  Plan  between  Egypt  and  the  EU  within  the  European 
Neighbourhood Policy sets ambitious objectives based on joint ownership, common interests, 
reciprocal commitments, differentiation, shared values and implementation of national plans 
and reform programmes, politically, economically, socially and institutionally.  

Egypt  and  the  EU  agree,  through  the  current  Action  Plan,  to  enter  into  intensified  political, 
security,  economic,  trade,  investment,  scientific,  technological  and  cultural  relations,  and 
shared  responsibility  in  establishing  an  area  of  peace  and  stability  including  the  prevention 
and  settlement  of  conflicts  in  the  region  and  to  reinvigorate  regional  and  sub-regional 
cooperation. 

The level of ambition of the EU-Egypt relationship, leading to continuing trade liberalization 
including in agriculture and services, a stake in the EU’s internal market, , increased financial 
support  and  enhanced  political  cooperation,  will  depend  on  the  degree  of  commitment  to 
common values as well as the implementation of jointly agreed priorities to mutual benefits. 
The  pace  of  progress  of  the  relationship  will  acknowledge  fully  the  efforts  and  concrete 
achievements in meeting those commitments. 

Recognizing Egypt’s efforts and reform priorities to further develop and modernise all sectors 
of  the  Egyptian  society  and  economy  based  on  the  respect  of  her  identity,  specificities  and 
national priorities, the Action Plan aims to support such efforts and priorities as reflected in 
the  National  Development  Plan  2002-2007,  President  Mubarak’s  Electoral  Platform  for 
2005¨and the Government’s statement to the parliament in January 2006.  

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These  include  national  priorities  aiming  to:  improve  quality  of  life  and  standard  of  living; 
increase employment opportunities and reduce unemployment; reduce poverty and expand the 
coverage of social security; eradicate illiteracy and develop education and higher education; 
consolidate the role of institutions, promote the protection of human rights and fundamental 
the 
freedoms;  continue  maintaining  and  ensuring 
participation  in  political  life;  enhance  human  resources  and  institutional  capacity  building; 
increase  rates  of  economic  growth  and  investments;  increase  female  participation  in 
development;  achieve  a  significant  expansion  in  the  production  and  exports  capacities; 
improve  industrial  potentials;  promote  innovation,  scientific  research  and  technological 
development and preserve the environment.  

independence;  expand 

judiciary 

This  Action  Plan  is  a  first  step  in  a  process  covering  a  timeframe  of  three  to  five  years.  Its 
implementation will help fulfil the provisions and aims of  the Association Agreement (AA) 
and  will  encourage  and  support  Egypt’s  national  development,  modernization  and  reform 
objectives. It will furthermore help to devise and implement policies and measures to promote 
economic  growth,  employment  and  social  cohesion,  to  reduce  poverty  and  protect  the 
environment,  thereby  contributing  to  the  long  term  objective  of  sustainable  development. 
Implementation of the Action Plan will also help, where appropriate, further integration into 
European Union economic, social and technological structures and significantly increase the 
possibility to advance the approximation of Egyptian legislation, norms and standards to those 
of the European Union in appropriate areas, thereby enhancing prospects for trade, investment 
and growth. 

The  Action  Plan  will  take  into  account  the  balance  between  the  acceleration  necessary  for 
dynamic implementation and modernization of the Egyptian economy and the imperatives of 
a sustainable socio-economic development. 

Egypt’s unique geographical position and her historical and strategic relations with the Arab 
and African countries, and her key role for peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as 
the EU’s increasing role on the global arena and its enhanced contribution to peace, security 
and economic development in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, enable Egypt and EU, 
through  this  Action  Plan  to  further  develop  their  cooperation  on  regional  and  international 
issues, particularly referring to the Middle East Peace Process, disarmament and arms control, 
including  illicit  transfer  of  small  arms  and  light  weapons,  non  proliferation  of  weapons  of 
mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East and elsewhere, and the fight 
against terrorism; to enhance and to promote dialogue between cultures and civilizations and 
to promote South-South trade and cooperation. 

In order to contribute to the realization of the ambitious objectives of this Action Plan, the EU 
will  provide  appropriate  financial  support  through  the  different  available  financial 
instruments.  

The AA is the legal framework governing the bilateral relations between Egypt and the EU. 

New Partnership Perspectives 

The  European  Neighbourhood  Policy  and  Egypt’s  policy  to  deepen  its  relationship  with  the 
EU open New Partnership Perspectives: 

•  The  perspective  of  moving  beyond  the  existing  relationship  to  a  significant  degree  of 
economic integration including through a stake in the EU’s Internal Market, which aims to 

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promote the free movements of goods, services, capitals and persons and the possibility for 
Egypt to participate progressively in key aspects of EU policies and programmes. 

•  An upgrade in the scope and intensity of political cooperation. 

•  Deepening trade and economic relations through the continued reduction of trade barriers 
on  both  sides,  increased  access  to  each  others’  markets  including  in  agriculture  and 
services and continuous upgrading of economic legislations. This will stimulate trade and 
foreign  direct  investment  and  accelerate  economic  growth  accompanied  by  a  sufficient 
strengthening of the private sector and business conditions leading to a greater economic 
integration between Egypt and the European Union. 

•  Increased  financial  support:  EU  financial  assistance  for  Egypt  will  be  better  targeted  to 
support the implementation of the actions identified in the present document, as well as the 
implementation of the Association Agreement and development, modernization and reform 
agenda  of  the  Government  of  Egypt,  in  particular  developing  human  resources  and 
enhancing  the  business  climate  to  increase  investment  and  employment.  The  European 
Commission  is  furthermore  proposing  a  new  European  Neighbourhood  and  Partnership 
Instrument  (ENPI)  for  this  purpose,  also  covering  cross-border  and  transnational 
cooperation  between  Egypt  and  EU  Member  States.  There  will  also  be  support  for 
infrastructure  investment  as  well  as  for  the  development  of  the  private  sector  and 
partnership through the European Investment Bank and FEMIP. 

•  Prospect  of  gradual  opening  of  or  reinforced  co-operation  in  relevant  European 
environmental, 

educational, 

cultural, 

i.a. 

Community  programmes,  promoting 
technological and scientific links. 

•  Support  for  meeting  EU  and  international  norms  and  standards  and  for  modernization 
efforts including through technical assistance and twinning, as well as targeted support and 
advise for legislative approximation through mechanisms such as TAIEX. 

•  Enhanced  direct  cooperation  between  administrations  based  on  the  bodies  set  up  by  the 

Association Agreement in particular institutionalised thematic sub-committees. 

In light of the fulfilment of the objectives of this Action Plan and of the overall evolution of 
EU–Egypt  relations,  consideration  will  be  given  to  the  possibility  of  a  new  contractual 
relationship.  

Priorities for Action 

This  Action  Plan  sets  out  a  comprehensive  set  of  priorities  in  areas  within  the  scope  of  the 
Association  Agreement.  Among  these  priorities,  all  of  which  are  important,  particular 
attention should be given to:  

•  Enhance political dialogue and co-operation, based on  shared values, including on issues 
such  as  continued  commitment  and  efforts  to  achieve  a  just,  comprehensive  and  lasting 
settlement to the Middle East conflict based on relevant UNSC resolutions and the terms of 
reference of the Madrid Conference and the principle of “land for peace”. 

•  Enhance dialogue on security issues such as disarmament and arms control including illicit 
transfer of small arms and light weapons; non proliferation of weapons of mass destruction 

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and their delivery systems, including the objective of establishing a zone free of WMD and 
their  delivery  systems  in  the  Middle  East  ;  strengthening  the  fight  against  terrorism; 
peacekeeping. 

•  Enhance  the  effectiveness of institutions  entrusted with  strengthening  democracy  and the 

rule of law and consolidate the independent and effective administration of justice. 

•  Promote  the  protection  of  human  rights  in  all  its  aspects;  improve  the  dialogue  between 
cultures and religions, cooperate in the fight against intolerance, discrimination, racism and 
xenophobia  and  in  the  promotion  of  respect  for  religions  and  cultures.  Such  priorities 
would be pursued based on the principles of respect, understanding and equality.  

•  Increase  economic  integration  with  the  EU,  particularly  by  taking  steps  to  the  gradual 
liberalization of trade in services and on the right of establishment and to liberalize trade in 
agriculture,  processed  agricultural  products  and  fisheries,  and  enhance  Egypt’s  export 
potential  to  the  EU  market  by  upgrading  the  quality  of  Egypt’s  agricultural  production 
through improving sanitary and phytosanitary standards and rural development. 

•  Improving  macroeconomic  governance,  reforming  the  financial  sector,  strengthening  the 
role  of  the  private  sector,  enhancing  the  business  climate,  in  particular  for  SMEs, 
eliminating  institutional,  regulatory  and  administrative  obstacles  with  a  view  to  attract 
increasing national and foreign investments and to create job opportunities, consequently 
alleviating poverty.  

•  Boost  industrial  development  and  enterprises  capabilities  and  competitiveness  through 
improved  skills,  better  access  to  finance,  promotion  of  new  technologies,  encouraging 
entrepreneurship  and  innovation,  and  development  of  efficient  business  support  services 
and increase labour force productivity.  

•  Deepen and enhance the existing economic dialogue and identify areas suitable for gradual 
regulatory  upgrading  and  approximation  with  EU  technical  legislation,  standards  and 
conformity assessment procedures  

•  Proceed  in  reforming  the  tax  system,  improving  public  finance  management,  and 

upgrading public institutions.  

•  Promote south-south trade, through encouraging FDI participation in regional projects such 

as: infrastructure, trade facilitation, energy and transport. 

•  Strengthen  cooperation  on  poverty  reduction  and  social  development,  in  particular  in  the 
areas of combating illiteracy, education reforms, upgrading the vocational training, training 
systems, quality assurance, as well as better socio-economic inclusion and social insurance 
and developing the health sector reform, with a particular focus on increasing the level of 
health  security,  health  information  and  knowledge.  Reforms  of  the  education  and  higher 
education  systems  aim  among  other  issues  at  enhancing  overall  quality  and  relevance  to 
the labour market. 

•  Promote cooperation in the area of science and technology, develop national capabilities of 
technical,  scientific  and  technological  research  and  innovation,  the  development  of  R&D 
and  transfer  of  technology,  promote  links  in  scientific  research,  strengthen  efforts  to 

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implement  the  EU-Egypt  Agreement  on  Scientific  and  Technological  cooperation, 
strengthen links between higher research institutes and education institutions. 

•  Promote  cooperation  in  the  area  of  information  technology  and  communications  through 
promoting  information  society  and  its  sustainability,  including  the  use  of  ICT  in 
development,  the  development  of  the  ICT  industry,  innovation,  in  addition  to  the  use  of 
new  technologies  and  electronics  means  of  communications  by  businesses,  government 
and citizens, as well as strengthening scientific and business links. 

•  Strengthen  co-operation  on  migration-related  issues,  including  the  effective  joint 
management of migration flows, legal and illegal migration, readmission, facilitation of the 
legal  movement  of  individuals,  equal  treatment  and  social  integration  for  legal  migrants, 
and asylum issues.  

•  Promote  cooperation  on  fight  against  organised  crime,  including  trafficking  in  human 
beings,  fight  against  drugs,  fight  against  money  laundering,  and  police  and  judicial  co-
operation.  

•  Promote  co-operation  in  the  transport  field,  in  particular  on  developing  infrastructure 
policies,  implementing  the  sector  reform  programme  aiming  at  separating  regulatory, 
management  and  operation  tasks;  promoting  the  involvement  of  the  private  sector  in 
transport  projects  and  services;  applying  air,  maritime,  and  road  safety  measures,  and 
developing a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GALILEO).  

•  Enhance cooperation in the energy sector, in particular through energy policy exchanges, 
the  gradual  convergence  towards  the  principles  of  the  EU  internal  electricity  and  gas 
markets,  the  development  of  energy  networks  including  facilitation  of  natural  gas 
transportation between Egypt and the EU via the Arab gas pipeline, regional cooperation, 
and enhancing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy as well as cooperation in 
the oil and gas industry. 

•  Strengthen  the  environmental  dimension  of  public  policy  and  EU-Egypt  co-operation: 
promotion  of  sustainable  development  policies  and  actions,  including  on  climate  change, 
desertification and air, soil and water pollution.  

•  Strengthen  links  and  co-operation  in  “people-to-people”  contacts  in  youth  and  sports, 

culture and audiovisual areas and civil society. 

Cooperation  and  actions  under  this  Plan  shall  be  consistent  with  national  laws  and 
legislations.  

Progress in meeting these priorities will be jointly evaluated in sub-committees established by 
the  Association  Agreement.  On  this  basis,  the  EU  and  Egypt  will  review  the  content  of  the 
Action  Plan  and  decide  on  its  adaptation  and  renewal.  After  three  years,  Egypt  and  the  EU 
will  consider  future  prospect  of  the  development  of  bilateral  relations,  including  the 
possibility of new contractual links. 

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2. Actions 

2.1. Enhanced political dialogue, economic and social development and reform 

2.1.1. Enhanced political dialogue and reform 

a) Democracy and rule of law 

Enhance the effectiveness of institutions entrusted with strengthening democracy and the rule 
of law 

–  Strengthen  participation  in  political  life,  including  the  promotion  of  public 

awareness and participation in elections. 

–  Exchange experience in the field  of elections and jointly develop cooperation in 
areas  of  shared  interest  including  through  providing  assistance  on  registering 
electors and capacity building. 

–  Foster  the  role  of  civil  society  and  enhance  its  capacity  to  contribute  more 
effectively to the democratic and political process as well as to the economic and 
social progress in accordance with national legislation. 

–  Pursue and support the efforts Government of Egypt towards decentralization and 

the reform of local administration. 

–  Enhance  the  ongoing  political  dialogue  between  the  Egyptian  and  the  European 

Parliaments.  

–  Establish a formal and regular dialogue on Human Rights and Democracy in the 
framework of the Association Agreement in the context of the sub-committee on 
political matters: human rights and democracy – international and regional issues. 

–  Pursue  and  support  the  Government  of  Egypt  in  the  further  modernization  and 
development  of  public  services  rendered  to  citizens,  promoting  accountability, 
transparency and contestability.  

Consolidate  the  independent  and  effective  administration  of  justice  and  improve  prison 
conditions 

–  In the context of political and democratic reform, continue the ongoing process of 

strengthening, maintaining and ensuring the independence of the judiciary. 

–  Further  develop  measures  to  increase  the  capacity  and  efficiency  of  the  justice 
administration (including prison) and access to justice, including capacity building 
of bodies entrusted with the implementation of the law.  

–  Support  Egyptian  government  policies  and  programmes  aiming  at  improving 
places of detention and prison conditions, especially the placement of minors.  

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b) Human rights and fundamental freedoms  

–  Support  Egyptian  government  efforts  to  protect  human  rights  and  fundamental 
freedoms  in  line  with  international  conventions  to  which  Egypt  is  party  and  to 
elaborate  a  human  rights  strategy  in  partnership  with  the  NCHR  and  with 
appropriate consultation of other relevant organizations. 

–  Strengthen  the  culture  of  respect  for  human  rights  and  fundamental  freedoms  in 

Egypt and in the EU.  

–  Support Egyptian efforts to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of competent 

Egyptian public institutions and councils. 

–  Continue the review of respective national legislations to further align their laws 
and practices with international human rights instruments to which they are party 
and taking into account relevant UN recommendations. 

–  Examine  the  possibility  of  accession  to  the  optional  protocols  to  international 

human rights conventions to which Egypt is a party. 

–  Continue  and  enhance  cooperation  with  UN  and  African  human  rights  treaty 
mechanisms, as well as with the newly established UN Human Rights Council. 

–  Examine the possibility for the EU Member States to sign the UN Convention on 

the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. 

–  Promote dialogue on policies for physically and mentally disabled.  

–  Promote a dialogue on Rome Statute of International Criminal Court. 

–  Examine  the  relevant  UN  recommendations  and  the  recommendations  of  the 
Egyptian  National  Council  for  Human  Rights  pertaining  to  security,  detention 
conditions and prison staff with a view to their practical implementation in order 
to protect the human rights and integrity of detainees and to fight impunity.  

–  Initiate a review of laws and regulations dealing with pre-trial and administrative 
detention  systems  taking  into  consideration  the  relevant  UN  recommendations, 
particularly in order to ensure the prompt access of detainees to legal counsel and 
family. 

–  Ensure  the  possibility  of  legal  recourse  against  death  sentences  for  all  types  of 
courts,  in  accordance  with  the  UN  Safeguards  guaranteeing  protection  of  the 
rights  of  those  facing  the  death  penalty  and  taking  into  account  Article  4  and 
Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  

–  Engage in a dialogue on the death penalty. 

–  Co-operate  to  promote  the  achievement  of  the  right  to  development  in  bilateral 

and multilateral fora. 

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Rights of women and children 

–  Promote  the  enhancement  of  women’s  participation  in  political,  economic  and 
social  life  as  well  as  their  role  in  the  political  decision-making  process  by 
supporting  the  formulation  and  implementation  of  Egypt’s  government  policies 
and programmes. 

–  Support Egypt’s efforts to promote gender equality and reinforce the fight against 
discrimination and gender-based violence, including strengthening the activities of 
the  National  Council  for  Women  including  its  periodic  review  of  the  relevant 
existing legislation and recommendations for new legislation. 

–  Consolidate  the  rights  of  the  child  through  the  application  of  the  relevant  UN 
Convention  on  the  Rights  of  the  Child  and  consider  revising  existing  legislation 
taking into account the recommendations of the relevant UN Committee. 

–  Support the efforts of the Government of Egypt to eradicate the practice of female 
genital mutilation including through appropriate legislative actions and the raising 
of public awareness. 

Freedom of association and of expression and pluralism of the media 

–  Implement  measures  that  promote  the  right  of  assembly  and  association  in 

accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

–  Assert  freedom  of  expression  and  independence  of  the  media  by  facilitating  the 
work  of  independent  information  providers  including  through  appropriate 
legislative action.  

–  Examine  the  possibility  for  developing  specific  legislation  on  the  protection  of 

private data. 

–  Pursue  the  liberalisation  process  in  the  information  sector  and  further  increase 
access  to  information  for  all  citizens  including  by  reviewing  the  legal  and 
administrative frameworks. 

–  Establish joint cooperation activities on media issues including capacity building. 

Fight against discrimination, intolerance, racism and xenophobia 

–  Cooperate  to  combat  all  forms  of  discrimination,  intolerance,  racism  and 
xenophobia  and  in  particular  hate  or  defamatory  discourse  based  on  religion, 
beliefs, race or origin, inter alia through exchange of best practices and legislative 
action, as required. 

–  Strengthen the role of media in combating xenophobia and discrimination on the 
grounds of religious belief or culture and assume its responsibilities in this regard. 

–  Promote efforts, in Egypt and the EU, towards increasing tolerance, understanding 

and respect of all religions and cultures. 

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Fundamental social rights and core labour standards 

–  Develop a dialogue on fundamental social rights and core labour standards. 

–  Support measures that enhance the development and independence of trade unions 

and their role in economic and social life. 

–  Enhance  the  effective  implementation  of  core  labour  standards  as  defined  in  the 
1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and related 
ILO Conventions. 

c) Co-operation on foreign and security policy 

Strengthen the Political dialogue and co-operation on foreign and security policy 

–  Enhanced  political  dialogue  and  cooperation  in  jointly  agreed  areas  of  Common 
Foreign  and  Security  Policy  (CFSP)  and  European  Security  and  Defence  Policy 
(ESDP)  through  the  current  frameworks  or  through  new  mutually  agreed 
frameworks. 

–  Engage  a  dialogue 

in  UN/multilateral 
institutions  on  issues  of  common  interest,  including  peacekeeping  operations 
conducted  within  the  framework  of  the  UNSC  resolutions,  and  cooperate  where 
appropriate. 

their  respective  missions 

through 

–  Cooperation  on  promoting  disarmament  efforts,  in  particular,  those  aimed  at 
enhancing  regional  stability  and  on  further  coordinating  their  efforts  in 
international  fora  to  this  end,  in  accordance  with  respective  membership  of 
relevant  international  instruments.  Dialogue  and  cooperation  on  regional  issues 
(advancement  of  the  Middle  East  Peace  Process,  the  stability  and  territorial 
integrity  of  Iraq  and  Sudan,  other  regional  initiatives  aimed  at  economic  and 
social development particularly in Africa, NEPAD, Nile Basin Initiative). 

–  Cooperation in conflict prevention and crisis management, including cooperating 
with  the  Cairo  Centre  for  Training  on  Conflict  Prevention  and  Peacekeeping  in 
Africa  and  within  the  framework  of  the  Bridge  Project  for  the  creation  of  Euro-
Mediterranean  system  of  mitigation,  prevention  and  management  of  natural  and 
man-made disasters.  

–  Develop an Egyptian national strategy on disaster management and reduction. 

–  Develop trilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest taking into consideration 

their respective development cooperation mechanisms.  

d) Combating terrorism.  

–  Ensure respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism in accordance with 
international  law  Work  on  elaborating  appropriate  legislation  to  address  the 
phenomenon  of  terrorism  serving  as  a  legal  substitute  to  the  application  of  the 
current  state  of  emergency  taking  into  account  Egyptian  national  security 
considerations. 

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–  Strengthen  EU-Egypt  co-operation  on  preventing  and  combating  terrorism, 
including implementing the Code of Conduct on Countering Terrorism agreed at 
the  Barcelona  Summit  in  November  2005  as  well  as  the  initiatives  identified  in 
this Action Plan which will be discussed in the relevant sub-committees. 

–  Cooperate to reinforce the role of the UN in the fight against terrorism through the 
full  implementation  of  the  UNSC  resolution  1373  (2001)  and  through  the 
ratification  and  implementation  of  the  13  UN  conventions  and  protocols  on 
terrorism including the recently agreed Convention for the Suppression of Acts of 
Nuclear Terrorism. 

–  Pursue  efforts  to  arrive  at  a  Comprehensive  UN  Convention  on  International 
Terrorism  and  promote,  following  agreement  on  the  Convention,  President 
Mubarak’s initiative to hold an international conference on terrorism. 

–  Cooperate to ensure the implementation of the standards laid down in the FATF’s 

recommendations on terrorist financing. 

–  Exchange  information  on  terrorist  groups  and  their  support  networks  in 

accordance with international and national law. 

–  Exchange  views  on  means  and  methods  used  to  counter  terrorism,  including  in 
technical  fields  and  training,  and  by  exchange  of  experiences  in  respect  of 
terrorism prevention. 

–  Foster  international  cooperation  in  the  fight  against  and  the  prevention  of 

terrorism by addressing all its causes. 

e) Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery  

–  Co-operate  on  non-proliferation  of  weapons  of  mass  destruction  as  well  as  their 
means  of  delivery  including  through  implementing  UNSC  Resolution  1540/04, 
ensuring  full  compliance  with  and  national 
implementation  of  existing 
international  obligations  and  promote  the  accession  to  and  implementation  of 
other relevant international instruments. 

–  Further  develop  cooperation  in  the  prevention  of  and  fight  against  the  illicit 

trafficking of WMD-related materials. 

–  Cooperate on developing effective systems of national export control, controlling 
export and transit of WMD-related materials, including WMD end-use control on 
dual  use  of  technologies,  and  effective  sanctions  for  breaches  of  these  export 
controls.  

–  Improve  overall  coordination  in  the  non-proliferation  area  and  examine  specific 
threats  related  to  WMD  which  undermine  regional  security  and  the  scope  of 
cooperation in addressing them.  

–  Promote  the  relevant  provisions  on  the  political  and  security  partnership  of  the 
Barcelona  Declaration  with  the  objective  to  pursue  a  mutually  and  effectively 
verifiable Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery 

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systems in consonance both with President Mubarak's initiative in this regard and 
the principles of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of WMD. 

2.1.2. Economic development and reform  

a) Monetary, exchange rate and fiscal policies 

Consolidate  progress  made  with  a  view  to  improving  macroeconomic  stability  and  to 
promoting growth and employment 

–  Continue  to  pursue  macroeconomic  stability  by  reducing  the  inflation  rate  and 
gradually  achieving  price  stability.  Complete  the  preparations  for  the  new 
monetary  policy  strategy  based  on  inflation  targeting  and  representative  price 
indicators  and  further  strengthen  central  bank  independence.  Continue  efforts  to 
achieve sustainable public finances by reducing the central government deficit and 
the  consolidated  public  deficit.  Examine  the  scope  for  an  increase  of  public 
investment in key budget areas - such as education and key infrastructure projects 
– through further rationalization of current government spending.  

–  Continue  efforts  for  further  progress  in  transparency  and  accountability  of 
government  finances,  by  publishing  complete  and  timely  information  on  the 
budget,  fiscal  outcomes  and  audit  reports.  Improve  further  the  public  finance 
management  system,  in  particular  by  ensuring  the  comprehensiveness  of  the 
budget,  by  introducing  a  medium-term  budget  planning  and  a  single  treasury 
account. 

b) Functioning of Market Economy 

–  Increase  the  capacity  to  create  sustainable  growth  and  employment  by  further 
improving the conditions of private sector development, enhancing the investment 
climate, and accelerating the privatisation programme. These measures should be 
accompanied by improving education and training including through EU support. 

–  Work to reduce gradually economic distortions as well as to better target subsidies 

to eligible groups of the population and upgrade the social safety net. 

–  Accelerate  the  reform  of  the  financial  sector,  the  restructuring  and  the 
privatisation  of  state  banks  and  the  introduction  of  strong  financial  market 
supervision. 

–  Improve  the  efficiency  of  public  services  and  accelerate  and  streamline  the 

procedures which are necessary to set up a new company.  

–  Reduce  and  accelerate  judicial  procedures  which  are  necessary  to  enforce 

contracts. 

–  Develop  co-operation  in  promoting  and  developing  dispute  resolution  and 

exchange of expertise in the arbitration of commercial disputes. 

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c) Sustainable Development 

Promotion of sustainable development 

–  Take steps to prepare a comprehensive national sustainable development strategy 
and  to  complete  administrative  structures  and  procedures  to  ensure  strategic 
planning  of  sustainable  development  at  the  central  level,  as  co-ordinated  by  the 
Ministry of Environment including through EU support where appropriate. 

–  Take steps to strengthen and develop the institutional setup for the integration of 
sustainable  development  considerations  into  other  sectoral  policies  and  plans, 
such as industry, energy, transport, regional development and agriculture. 

–  Share  experiences  between  the  Commission  and  Egypt  about  sustainable 

development strategies. 

d) Agriculture and fisheries 

Pursue the modernization and restructuring of agriculture and fisheries 

Agriculture 

–  Cooperate in the implementation of the reforms in sectoral agricultural policies in 

line with the provisions of art. 50 of the Association Agreement. 

–  Identify  and  adopt  accompanying  measures  providing  for  the  structural, 
institutional, legal and administrative support necessary in order to ease access to 
export  markets,  inter  alia,  by  approximation  of  technical  legislation;  and  in 
particular  increase  co-operation  in  the  field  of  international  marketing  standards 
for all agricultural and processed agricultural products. 

–  Identify and adopt measures in the sector of rural development, and at the level of 
the  development  of  quality  production  (local  products,  food  safety,  organic 
products,  geographical  indications,  etc.,  within  the  scope  of  the  national  rules), 
which  would  encourage  the  diversification  of  activity  and  the  creation  of  new 
remunerative and sustainable trade flows and enhance the efficiency of water use.  

–  Identify  and  develop  measures  to  create  a  framework  to  encourage  private 

investment. 

–  Exchange expertise to strengthen the administrative capacity of the Land cadastre. 

–  Strengthen the role of agricultural research centres in improving the productivity, 
food  safety  and  quality  of  agricultural  products,  and  promote  cooperation  with 
European  Research  Centres,  particularly  in  the  areas  of  genetic  engineering  and 
biotechnology. 

–  Promote the use of modern technology in the agricultural sector and in different 

production phases. 

–  Promote the distribution and exchange of information on the agricultural policies 

and contribute to the transfer of expertise and experiences. 

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Fisheries 

–  Reinforce  the  cooperation  in  order  to  implement  the  actions  identified  in  the 
Declaration  of  the  Ministerial  Conference  for  the  Sustainable  Development  of 
Fishery  in  the  Mediterranean  (Venice,  25-26  November  2003)  in  the  framework 
of the relevant international instruments. 

–  Take steps to promote further the creation of fishermen associations with a view 
of  implementing  responsible  fisheries  and  improve  their  capacity  to  be 
represented into international and multilateral organisations. 

–  Increase the scientific and technical capacity to monitoring fisheries and evaluate 

the state of the exploited marine resources and marine environment. 

–  Improve scientific cooperation with the Regional Fisheries Body and in particular 
the GFCM with a view to strengthening a concerted and regional approach suited 
to the needs of sustainable fisheries and based on dialogue and coordination. 

–  Undertake  necessary  marketing  infrastructure  upgrading  to  cope  with  market 

demands and standards. 

e) Mineral resources 

–  Encourage  cooperation  between  EU  Member  States  and  Egypt  to  develop  the 
mineral  resources  sector  including  through  the  establishment  of  a  database  on 
mineral  resources,  promoting  relevant  investment  in  Egypt  and  building  human 
resources capacity. 

2.1.3. Social development  

a) Social situation, employment and poverty reduction  

Enhance Social development in particular through dialogue and co-operation  

–  Strengthen  measures  for  poverty  alleviation  through  the  Poverty  Reduction 

Strategy and the anti-poverty action plan. 

–  Engage  in  a  dialogue  on  employment  and  social  issues  including  the  social 
consequences of economic reforms with a view to develop a joint analysis of the 
situation and identify possible measures in this field.  

–  Develop  and  implement  market  driven  strategies  for  addressing  the  problem  of 

unemployment; modernize the Public Employment Services.  

–  Support the implementation of the new labour code including through institutional 
capacity  building.  Continue  the  adoption  of  implementing  regulations  and  build 
enforcement capacity. 

–  Strengthen the social dialogue at all levels (tripartite and bipartite). 

–  Ensure  and  develop  the  institutional  capacity  building  of  the  social  partners  to 
take the suitable measures according to the International Labour conventions. 

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–  Implement  the  relevant  International  Labour  Conventions  to  which  both  Egypt 

and the EU Member States are parties.  

–  Strengthen  the  efficiency,  targeting  and  coverage  of  social  expenditures  with  a 
particular attention to the enlargement of the base of the targeted groups and to the 
improvement of social statistics. 

–  Engage  in  a  dialogue  on  programmes  and  initiatives  aimed  at  fostering  social 
inclusion  on  the  basis  of  the  principle  of  non  discrimination,  with  particular 
attention to the integration of disadvantaged, the disabled groups, the marginalised 
groups and people with special needs. 

–  Ensure  equal  opportunities  for  women  and  men,  including  in  the  field  of 
employment. Further enhance the role of women in economic and social progress. 

–  Enhance protection of rights of the children at risk, particularly working children, 
street children and children with disabilities, and intensify efforts to progressively 
eliminate child labour. 

–  Engage  in  a  dialogue  with  a  view  to  promote  equal  treatment  of  Egyptian  and 
Community nationals who are legally residing and working in the territory of the 
Community or Egypt. 

–  Promote exchanges of experiences, dialogue and cooperation on matters of social 
security, notably on issues such as the reform of pension systems, the introduction 
of new instruments and the extension of the coverage of social protection and the 
improvement and enforcement of social security institutions.  

Strengthening socio-economic cohesion of Egyptians regions  

–  Strengthen  the  regional  development  management  structures.  Implement  the 
decentralisation  of  programme  of  services  delivery  and  management  at 
governorates level. 

–  Support the reduction of regional disparities in social and economic development, 

in particular in rural areas. 

–  Support policies that aim at ensuring access to basic health, education and social 

services for all. 

b) Education and training 

Support  and  enhance  cooperation  in  reforming  and  upgrading  the  education  and  training 
systems and work within the framework of Egyptian plans towards convergence with EU and 
international standards and practice 

–  Combat  illiteracy  and  achieve  education  for  all,  especially  for  women  and  girls, 
by  continuing  the  reform  of  the  education  systems,  and  pre-school  education 
aiming at early childhood development. 

–  Continue and enhance a policy dialogue between EU and Egyptian authorities in 

the field of education and training. 

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–  Continue  to  reform  primary  and  secondary  education  to  improve  quality, 
especially  through  continuing  decentralization  and  community  involvement  and 
human  resources  development  for  teachers  and  professors,  as  well  as  technical 
vocational  education and  training (TVET) to  make  it  more  responsive  to  market 
needs in the context of the Egyptian national educational standards. 

–  Reform higher education in line with the principles of Bologna process to improve 
internal and external efficiency. Foster the development of human resources and 
human capital, and promote the reform of higher education through the TEMPUS 
programme; ensure the integration of the social dimension in educational planning 
and programmes.  

–  Promote the use of ICT in education.  

–  Enhance the quality and the capacity of institutions and organisations involved in 
the  quality  assurance  of  education  and  training  provision,  in  particular  Egyptian 
Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation. 

–  Take  steps  to  increase  the  involvement  of  civil  society  stakeholders  and  social 

partners in higher and adult education and TVET reform. 

–  Encourage participation in the TEMPUS programme. 

–  Encourage participation in the Erasmus Mundus programme. 

–  Encourage  the  participation  of  Egyptian  students  in  the  forthcoming  EC 

scholarship programme and in similar schemes of EU Member States. 

c) Public Health  

Support and cooperate in the development of health sector reform 

–  Continue the development of the health sector through: 

–  implement re-organization and decentralization of the health sector;  

–  improve accessibility and affordability including in rural areas and with a focus on 

women/children including those with disabilities; 

–  elaborate a system for Social Health Insurance covering the whole population; 

–  ensure the efficiency of institutions including laboratories;  

–  enhance human resources capacity;  

–  enhance health security and epidemiological safety;  

–  strengthen  family  health  models,  including  maternal  mortality  and  reproductive 

health issues. 

Increase the level of health security, health information and knowledge 

–  Exchange of information and know-how on health indicators and data collection. 

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–  Invite  Egypt  as  observer  in  the  meetings  of  the  Network  of  Competent 

Authorities. 

Communicable Disease Surveillance and Health Security (Epidemiological Surveillance and 
Control) 

–  Participation  in  Communicable  Disease  Networks  and  dedicated  surveillance 

networks. 

–  Enhance response to infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. 

2.2.Trade related issues, market and regulatory reform 

2.2.1. Movement of goods 

a) Trade Relations 

–  Identify areas with export potential to the EU and further enhance Egypt’s export 
capability by increasing quality of Egyptian products and their competitiveness on 
international markets. 

–  Reduce substantially non tariff barriers of a regulatory and bureaucratic nature to 

trade and investments. 

–  Strengthen  the  capacity  building  in  the  Egyptian  administration  on  international 

trade relations. 

–  Enhance  Egypt’s  participation  in  and  capacity  to  benefit  from  regional  and  sub 
regional  trade  arrangements  including  conclusion  and  implementation  of  Free 
Trade Agreements. 

–  Establish  rules  of  procedure  to  ensure  the  effective  implementation  of  dispute 
settlement provisions under the Association Agreement on economic/trade matters 
based on the principles of the dispute settlement understanding of the WTO. 

–  Continue liberalisation of trade in agricultural, processed agricultural and fishery 
products  as  developed  in  the  agricultural  roadmap  taking  into  account  the 
conclusions of the Luxembourg Ministerial Meeting of May 2005. 

b) Customs 

–  Further  modernization  of  the  customs  administration  and  simplification  of 
customs  legislation  and  procedures,  including  computerization;  rolling  out  of 
Egyptians pilot projects on model tax and  customs centres  and ports’ automated 
one-stop-shop procedures. 

–  Develop  an  Integrated  Border  Management  Strategy  by  strengthening  co-
operation  between  customs  and  other  agencies  working  at  the  border  and  by 
implementing a single-window approach at all entry points. 

–  Adopt and implement the new protocol on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean cumulation of 
origin and exchange experience and information on the smooth implementation of 

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the  new  protocol  and  consult  on  the  future  development  of  rules  of  origin, 
including systems of cumulation. 

–  Strengthen  the  capacity  building  of  the  customs  administration  by  providing 
further  training  to  customs  officials,  including  in  the  areas  of  origin  and  custom 
valuation. 

–  Increase  transparency  of  customs  rules  and  tariffs  and  promote  further  public 

access to customs-related information and complaint procedures.  

–  Exchange  experience  and  know-how  with  a  view  to  strengthening  measures 
against  pirated  or  counterfeit  goods  through  the  reinforcement  of  customs 
controls. 

–  Strengthen  administrative  co-operation  with  the  EU  to  combat  irregularities  and 

fraud in customs and related matters. 

–  Develop  EU-  Egypt  co-operation  with  regard  to  risk  based  customs  control 
ensuring safety and security of goods imported, exported or in transit, and define 
standards for certification of operators (exporters and transporters) intervening in 
commercial exchanges. 

–  Examine possibility of further convergence of customs related legislation. 

–  Take steps to adopt and implement a Customs Ethics Policy. 

c) Standards and conformity assessment (EU harmonised areas) 

–  Continuation of  work  on  the  implementation of the Palermo Action Plan for the 
Free  Movement  of  Industrial  Products  approved  by  the  July  2003  Euro-
Mediterranean Conference of Trade Ministers. Take the necessary steps, with the 
the  quality 
support  of  continuing  assistance, 
infrastructure  and  to  start  negotiating  an  Agreement  on  Conformity  Assessment 
and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA).  

to  complete  and  upgrade 

–  Adapt the Egyptian institutions in charge of implementing product legislation and 

train the various stakeholders.  

–  Harmonize  the  remaining  national  standards  with  European  and  international 

standards for industrial products. 

–  Co-operation  in  the  field  of  legislation  on  liability  for  defective  products  and 

general product safety, including market surveillance. 

–  Explore  the  scope  for  co-operation  between  EU  and  Egyptian  accreditation 

bodies. 

d) Restrictions and streamlined administration (EU non-harmonised areas) 

–  Analyse legislation and administrative procedures with a view to identifying and 
progressively removing discrimination and restrictions against imported products.  

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–  Strengthen and upgrade the performance of the central contact point to facilitate 

information flows and co-operation with economic operators. 

e) Sanitary and phytosanitary issues 

Increase  food  safety  for  Egyptian  and  European  consumers.  Reforms  and  modernization  of 
the sanitary and phytosanitary sectors 

–  Pursue  efforts  towards  full  implementation  of  the  WTO  agreement  on  the 
application  of  Sanitary  and  Phytosanitary  measures  and  active  participation  in 
relevant international bodies such as OIE, IPPC, Codex Alimentarius. 

–  Enhance  cooperation  between  Egypt  and  the  EU  in  the  field  of  sanitary  and 
phytosanitary  issues  and  explore  possible  areas  of  cooperation  (e.g.  legislation, 
implementing  practices),  while  taking  into  account  the  different  conditions 
prevailing on both sides.  

–  Develop an Egyptian policy on food safety and an action plan.  

–  Cooperate  on  modalities  to  develop  animal  and  plant  identification  and 

traceability systems in Egypt. 

2.2.2. Right of establishment, Company law and services 

a) Establishment and company law 

–  Co-operate  to  facilitate  the  establishment  of  companies  and  foreign  investment 

and progressively remove obstacles to establishment. 

–  Improve  the  environment  for  business  operation,  e.g.  adopt  and  implement 

effectively bankruptcy legislation. 

–  Work towards the adoption of key principles of international accounting standards 

for listed companies and consolidated accounts. 

–  Establish  a  qualified  and  independent  audit  profession  and  work  towards  the 

adoption of international standards on auditing for all statutory audits. 

–  Implement a code of corporate governance. 

b) Services 

–  Facilitate  the  supply  of  services  according  to  the  parties’  commitments  under 
GATS  including  by  the  development  of  the  necessary  administrative  structures 
and the removal of identified barriers. 

–  Prepare for negotiating progressive liberalization of trade in services and right of 
establishment  taking  into  account  the  Euromed  Framework  Protocol  adopted  in 
Istanbul in 2004 and the Marrakech declaration of March 2006.  

–  Develop a strategy to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian services sector 

including regulatory simplification and administrative facilitation.  

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–  Establish  a  list  of  EU  Member  States  contact  points  on  services  to  provide 
information  to  the  Egyptian  services  suppliers/providers  who  seek  to  access  the 
European market. 

Financial services 

–  Full implementation of the Financial Sector Reform Program (FSRP).  

–  Enhance the prudential regulatory framework for financial services. 

–  Develop  the  capacity  building  of  independent  authorities  to  ensure  effective 

supervision including through training.  

2.2.3. Regional co-operation 

–  Further  develop  existing  regional  cooperation  arrangements  and  support  the 
development  of  new  initiatives  and  policies  promoting  regional  integration  and 
cooperation, based on the priorities of the relevant regional partners. 

–  Develop south-south trade including support for the implementation of the Agadir 

agreement, and promote trade and investment among the regional partners.  

2.2.4. Other key areas 

a) Taxation 

–  Support  tax  strategy  for  the  modernization  and  simplification  of  the  tax 
administration.  Define  the  necessary  administrative  structures  and  procedures, 
including a fiscal control strategy, audit and investigation methods, co-operation 
with  the  tax  payers  and  tax  compliance.  Identify  all  objectives  in  terms  of 
financial, human, logistic and IT resources. 

–  Support on-going efforts to complete the network of bilateral agreements between 
Egypt  and  EU  Member  States  on  avoidance  of  double  taxation  including  the 
improvement of transparency and the exchange of information in accordance with 
international standards. 

–  Support  the  Egyptian  efforts  to  modernise  and  improve  the  general  sales  tax 
system currently in force with a view to moving, in the medium term, towards a 
standard  VAT  system.  Initiate  a  dialogue  on  international  and  EU  tax  standard 
including  the  principles  related  to  transparency  and  exchange  of  information  for 
tax purposes and to OECD principles on harmful tax practices. 

b) Competition policy and State Aid  

–  Adoption of implementing rules on competition (Association Agreement, Article 
34.2),  for  which  the  deadline  is  five  years  after  the  entry  into  force  of  the 
Association Agreement (1 June 2009). 

Antitrust 

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–  Enforce  the  competition  law  in  line  with  that  of  the  EU  and  establish  an 

independent and adequately-resourced competition authority. 

State aids 

–  Agree on a definition of state aid and develop a national mechanism for collecting 
information  on  state  aid  in  order  to  ensure  implementation  of  article  34.3  of  the 
Association Agreement by exchanging with the EU an annual report on the total 
amount and distribution of State aid6. 

–  Exchange experience and know how at the appropriate time on the conditions to 
be  met  with  reference  to  state  aid  control  regimes  in  order  to  prepare  Egypt’s 
participation in the internal market. 

c) Intellectual property rights  

–  Accede  to  the  conventions  within  the  timeframe  stipulated  in  the  Association 
Agreement  and  apply  the  standards  of  protection  stated  in  such  conventions  or 
other  conventions  and  agreements 
is  party.  Strengthen 
enforcements of IPR legislation within TRIPS requirements. 

to  which  Egypt 

–  Reinforce  the  fight  against  piracy  and  counterfeiting  and  promote  cooperation 
between  the  authorities  involved,  police,  judiciary  and  customs.  Significantly 
reduce circulation and trafficking of counterfeit/pirated goods.  

–  Increase  awareness  at  both  public  and  private  level  and  encourage  the 
establishment  and  effective  functioning  of  associations  of  rights  holders  and 
consumers. 

–  Explore the possibility of enhanced interaction with other Euromed partners.  

–  Initiate  a  policy  dialogue  covering  all  aspects  of  IPR,  including  further 
improvements  and  possible  membership  of  additional 

legal/administrative 
relevant conventions etc. 

d) Statistics 

Adoption  of  statistical  methods  compatible  with  European  and  international  standards  in 
relevant statistical areas  

–  Elaborate  a  short  and  middle  term  development  strategy  for  harmonisation  with 
European  and  international  standards  in  the  relevant  statistical  areas  covered  by 
this Action Plan. 

–  Ensure  that  legislation  on  official  statistics  is  based  on  the  fundamental  UN 

principles. 

6 

For any sectors which should participate in the internal market, there would have to be in force a State 
aids control regime and legislation meeting the requirements of the EU acquis, including a system of 
prohibition and ex-ante control of State aids which distort trade between the EU and Egypt. 

EN 

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–  First steps to develop economic, environmental and social statistics in conformity 

with European and international standards. 

–  Adoption of an Egyptian National Statistical Master Plan. 

e) Public procurement 

–  Initiate  a  process  of  gradual  approximation  with,  and  implementation  of  key 
international principles, transparency, competition and access to legal recourse. In 
order to help enhance access to each other’s public procurement markets, and to 
ensure  effective  communication,  task  the  relevant  sub-committee  to  identify 
obstacles  hindering  public  procurement  access  inter  alia  through  dialogue  with 
relevant operators and authorities.  

–  Improve  the  functioning  of  the  current  system  through  increased  transparency, 

information and training.  

–  Improve  information  and  awareness  among  contracting  authorities  and  the 

business community about public procurement procedures. 

–  Strengthen  the  administrative  capacity  of  the  Central  Complaints  Resolution 

Office at the Ministry of Finance.  

f) Enterprise policy  

–  Support Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) (encouraging investment climate, 
enhancing  the  activity  of  the  Social  Fund  for  Development,  contributing  to 
for  SMEs,  promoting  youth  and  women 
improve  access 
entrepreneurship, enhancing productivity and competitiveness including through a 
better access to market). 

finance 

to 

–  Adapt  the  priorities  of  the  Industrial  Modernization  Programme  (IMP)  to  the 
Industrial  Modernization  and 

Objectives  of 
the  Egyptian  strategy 
Competitiveness and of the Euro-Med Charter for Enterprise. 

for 

–  Modernize  and  improve  the  competitiveness  of  Egyptian  industry  including 
through the implementation of the Egyptian strategy for Industrial modernization 
and competitiveness.  

–  Improve  the  business  environment  including  through  the  implementation  of  the 

Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise.  

–  Work  towards  implementation  of  the  October  2004  Euro-Mediterranean  Work 

Programme on Industrial Cooperation.  

–  Create a dialogue between business, administration and academic institutions for 
the  identification  of  priority  actions  for  business  improvement  and  the  exchange 
of best practice. 

g) Public Internal Financial Control and related issues 

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–  Exchange  of  information  on  the  concepts  and  legislative  framework  for  public 
internal financial control in Egypt and EU Member States, taking into account EU 
best practices.  

–  Cooperate  in  view  of  establishing,  and  implementing  a  policy  for  upgrading  the 
Public  Internal  Financial  Control  system  on  the  basis  of  a  gap  analysis  of  the 
current internal control systems as compared to the relevant internationally agreed 
standards and best EU practice. 

–  Exchange  of  expertise  and  cooperation  in  order  to  upgrade  the  institutional 
capacity of the public internal control system to internationally agreed standards 
and methodologies as well as EU best practices in the area of internal control and 
internal  audit,  covering  all  income,  expenditure,  assets  and  liabilities,  of  the 
general Government and budget entities and economic authorities. 

–  Ensure  effective  cooperation  with  the  relevant  EU  Institutions  and  bodies  in  the 
case  of  on-the-spot  checks,  audits  and  investigations  related  to  the  management 
and control of EU funds. 

2.3. Transport, energy and environment 

a) Transport  

Cooperation in the transport sector (maritime, aviation, road, rail and inland waterway) 

Implement a national transport strategy, including transport infrastructure development and 
transport sector reforming 

–  Support the development and implementation of the national sustainable transport 
policy  for  the  development  of  all  modes  of  transport  and  related  infrastructure, 
focusing  in  particular  on  strengthening  safety  and  security;  integration  of 
environmental considerations in transport; as well as intermodality. 

–  Develop  procedures  to  identify  and  help  implement  priority  infrastructure 
projects.  Such  procedures  should  address  financing  strategies  focusing  on 
activating  and  promoting  the  participation  of  the  private  sector  in  transport 
projects;  capacity  constraints;  lack  of  inter-modal  equipment  and  missing  link 
infrastructure. 

–  Continue the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework. 

–  Continue  with  the  reform  of  the  transport  sector  including  institutional  building, 
organizational  restructuring;  capacity  building;  Strengthen  and  if  necessary 
establish strategic planning units and develop better asset management procedures 
for different sectors. 

–  Promote  the  use  of  intelligent  transport  systems  and  information  technology  in 
transport  as  well  as  supporting 

managing  and  operating  all  modes  of 
intermodality. 

–  Take  steps  to  negotiate  a  cooperation  agreement  between  EU  and  Egypt  on  the 

development of a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GALILEO). 

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–  Regional element 

–  Participate  in  the  regional  transport  planning  activities,  including  the  Euro-Med 
cooperation aimed at proposing an action plan for transport in the Mediterranean 
region,  as  well  as  a  basic  regional  infrastructure  network  and  interconnection  of 
this network with the trans-European transport network. 

–  Continue participation in the development of Global Navigation Satellite System 
(Galileo) in the Mediterranean region, in particular by giving an active role to the 
Galileo Euromed Cooperation Office based in Cairo; take part in particular in the 
new regional cooperation activities on satellite navigation systems. 

Implement selected measures and reforms in the road and rail transport sectors 

–  Introduce a transparent regulatory process for the issuing of freight and passenger 

transport licences and for granting access to the profession. 

–  Implement  the  relevant  international  conventions,  notably  on  dangerous  goods 

transport. 

–  Develop  an  integrated  action  plan  on  road  safety  including  the  technical 

control/road worthiness testing of vehicles. 

–  Develop and implement the railway sector restructuring policy and reorganise the 
administration to separate regulatory responsibilities from operational interests. 

–  Improve  efficiency of  rail  freight transport services which might eventually lead 

the Egyptian rail system to be utilised as a gateway to Africa. 

–  Develop 

intermodality 

and  multi-modal 

services, 

address 

issues  of 

interoperability. 

–  Regional element 

–  Explore the benefits of regional cooperation in order to improve the safety, speed 

and effectiveness (interoperability) of rail services.  

Implement selected measures and reforms in the maritime and inland water transport sectors 

–  Develop  and  implement  the  existing  comprehensive  national  maritime  policy 
aiming  at  promoting  and  developing  the  maritime  industry  increasing  its 
competitiveness and promoting the participation of private sector in all aspects of 
maritime industry, including ports and port activities; strengthen maritime safety 
and  develop  the  fleet;  continue  to  implement  the  relevant  international 
conventions; and when possible approximate standards.  

–  Continue reform of the ports sector with a view to introduction of an independent 
port  authority  responsible  for  regulation  and  control  and  adoption  of  the  “Land 
Lord” management system. Ensure, in the context of the up-coming negotiations 
on  liberalization  of  trade  in  services,  on  the  basis  of  the  Marrakech  ministerial 
declaration  in  March  2006,  the  elimination  of  discriminatory  treatment  to 
Community vessels in Egyptian Ports. 

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–  Assess and examine the possibility of extending VTMIS to the Mediterranean. 

–  Effectively enforce maritime safety standards and ensure effective enforcement in 
the areas of Port State Control and Flag State implementation. Step up cooperation 
on  maritime  security  with  a  view  to  combating  terrorism,  in  the  context  of 
implementing the SOLAS/ISPS code. 

–  Speed up the phasing-out of single-hull oil tankers and apply the changes recently 
agreed  in  the  IMO  Marpol  Convention  taking  into  consideration  the  relevant 
recommendation of the High Level Group on the extension of the trans-European 
transport network to neighbouring countries and regions. 

–  Establish  an  infrastructure  and  services  development  policies  and  strategies  to 
activate the inland water transport role in freight transport as potential cheaper and 
environmentally  friendlier  mode  of  transport  that  could  provide  access  to  other 
African countries.  

–  Regional element 

–  Maritime safety and security: take part in improving the Euromed framework for 
cooperation within the IMO; take part in regional cooperation on maritime safety 
(SAFEMED). 

–  Take  part  in  regional  cooperation  on  maritime  policy,  ports  and  short-sea 

shipping. 

Implement selected measures and reforms in the aviation sector 

–  Implement  the  existing  national  aviation  policy  including  as  regards  the 
development  of  the  airports  and  further  reinforce  administrative  capacity 
(including the foreseen separation of regulatory and management functions of the 
ECAA). 

–  Explore  the  possibility  of  extending  to  all  airports  open  competition  in  ground-

handling services. 

–  Assess  the  possibility  of  extending  to  all  airports  the  liberalization  of  charter 

flights and examine the specific situation of Cairo airport. 

–  Negotiate a horizontal aviation agreement with the EC. Exchange of information 

on the possibility of developing a Euro-Mediterranean Aviation agreement.  

–  Enhance  administrative  and  technical  capacity  to  fully  implement  jointly  agreed 
JAA standards. Explore possibilities to involve Egypt in the work of EASA and 
for involvement in the Single European Sky. 

–  Co-operate  on  aviation  security  matters  (common  rules  to  combat  international 
terrorism)  in  accordance  with  international  conventions  to  which  Egypt  and  the 
EU Member States are party. 

–  Explore  the  possibilities  of  cooperation  in  establishing  a  Safety  Management 

System Programmer.  

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–  Regional element 

–  Take part in regional cooperation on safety, security and air traffic management. 

b) Energy 

Cooperate in the development of an overall long term energy strategy converging towards EU 
energy policy objectives 

–  Take  steps  to  prepare  (under  the  auspices  of  the  Ministry  of  Petroleum  and  the 
Ministry  of  Electricity  and  Energy)  an  overall  Egyptian  energy  strategy 
converging 
(security  of  supply, 
competitiveness  and  environmental  protection)  and  covering,  inter  alia,  all 
subsectors, the strengthening of institutions and financing. 

towards  EU  energy  policy  objectives 

–  Enhance energy policy cooperation through information exchange (eg workshops 
on  general  energy  policy;  energy  statistics,  data  mining  and  forecast  systems; 
energy investments;  energy technologies  transfer and  industrial  cooperation; and 
electricity and gas markets and interconnections.  

–  Adoption and start of implementation of energy strategy documents. 

–  Continue energy policy cooperation. 

Cooperation on electricity and gas markets 

–  Explore  possibilities  for  gradual  legal  and  regulatory  convergence  towards  the 

principles of the EU internal electricity and gas markets.  

–  Further  develop  energy  pricing  methodologies  and  exchange  of  views  on  gas 

pricing and transit gas fee policies in view of the relevant EU experience.  

–  Cooperate to build the capacity of the Electric Utilities and Consumer Protection 
Regulatory  Agency  including  its  development  towards  an  electricity  regulator 
independent from market operators.  

–  Cooperate to develop an oil and gas Regulatory Agency.  

–  Cooperate  to  study  the  different  models  of  electricity  markets  for  establishing  a 
local  and  regional  electricity  market  and  setting  the  rules  and  procedures  in 
cooperation with the electricity sector.  

–  Continue  sector  restructuring;  to  explore  possibilities  for  gradual  convergence 
towards the principles of the EU internal electricity and gas markets and the Euro-
Mashrek-Maghreb gas cooperation.  

–  Regional element 

–  Cooperate, in the context of the Declaration of Intent of 2 December 2003 on the 
Euro-Mashrek  cooperation  in  the  field  of  natural  gas  including  as  regards  the 
development  of  a  regional  Gas  Master  Plan  expected 
the 
transportation of natural gas in particular between Egypt and the EU. 

to  facilitate 

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31 

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–  Cooperate in the field of the EU-Mashrek-Maghreb electricity market. 

Progress on energy networks.  

–  Reduce electricity network losses. 

–  Further develop regional energy infrastructures including upgrading the electricity 

link with Jordan and Libya. 

–  Improve the safety and security of energy infrastructure. 

–  Further develop electricity networks in rural areas. 

Progress on energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.  

–  Take  steps  to  develop  an  Action  Plan  including  a  financial  plan  for  improving 

energy efficiency and enhancing the use of renewable energy.  

–  Reinforce  the  institutions  dealing  with  energy  efficiency  and  renewable  energy 

sources. 

–  Cooperate to develop mechanisms for effective introduction of renewable energy 
into the Egyptian Electricity Market and promote technology transfer and know-
how in this area. 

–  Pursue measures in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. 

–  Progress to reach Egypt’s target to ensure that 3 % of the electric energy needs are 

covered by the year 2010 by renewable energy sources. 

c) Environment 

Improve environmental performance and enhance good environmental governance  

–  Implement national priorities in the field of environment protection as specified in 
the national environmental action plan 2002–2017, with particular attention to the 
establishment  of  administrative  structures  and  procedures  to  ensure  strategic 
planning  of  environment  issues  by  the  Ministry  of  State  for  Environmental 
Affairs;  to  the  environmental  policy  implementation  framework  and  to  co-
ordination between relevant actors. 

–  Enhance  coordination  with  line  ministries  through  development  of  Policy 
Implementation  Framework  (an  initiative  to  assess  adopted  environmental 
policies; prioritization for their integration into sectoral policies and activate their 
implementation).  

–  Establish  procedures  regarding  access  to  environmental  information  and  public 

participation.  

–  Reinforce  structures  and  procedures 

to  carry  out  environmental 

impact 

assessments.  

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–  Exchange of experiences in the implementation of strategic environmental impact 

assessment. 

–  Improve  co-operation  between  different  Ministries  to  implement  the  national 

strategies on cleaner production and air quality. 

–  Implement the environmental communication strategy. 

–  Support  civil  society  actors  and  local  authorities,  in  order  to  implement  the 

decentralised environmental management policy.  

Take  active  action  for  prevention  of  deterioration  of  the  environment,  protection  of  human 
health, and achievement of rational use of natural resources, in line with the Johannesburg 
Plan of Implementation 

–  Implement national priorities in the field of environment protection with particular 
attention  to  legislation  and  its  implementation  as  specified  in  the  national 
environmental action plan 2002–2017. 

–  Take steps towards adoption of plans and programmes related to air quality, water 

quality and biodiversity. 

–  Implement the national plan for combating desertification. 

–  Exchange of experience on protection of biological diversity and rural landscape, 

with special attention to the relevant migratory species. 

–  Carry  out  strategic  environmental  impact  assessment  of  industrial  and  tourist 

facilities. 

Enhance co-operation on environmental issues 

–  Develop  modalities  for  co-operation  with  the  EU  to  implement  multilateral 
environmental  agreements  with  particular  emphasis  on  climate  change, 
desertification, biodiversity and waste management. 

–  Enhance  co-operation  to  achieve  the  commitments  by  the  parties  with  regard 
provisions  under  the  Kyoto  Protocol  and  the  UN  Framework  Convention  on 
Climate Change. 

–  Complete  the  ratification  process  of  the  new  Emergency  Protocol  and  the 

amendments to the Land-Based Sources Protocol of Barcelona Convention. 

–  Possible participation in selected European Environment Agency activities. 

–  Identify possibilities to enhance regional cooperation in the field of environment.  

–  Initiate  actions  which  will  contribute  to  the  implementation  of  the  objectives  of 
the De-pollution Initiative for the Mediterranean Sea (Horizon 2020), and promote 
Egyptian efforts in this regard. 

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–  Promote  technology  transfer  and  know-how  in  the  following  areas:  waste 
management,  including  recycling  and  treatment  of  industrial  and  agricultural 
wastes. 

–  Enhance co-operation between Egypt and EU for protecting marine environment 
through  the  adoption  of  specific  actions,  and  taking  into  consideration  activities 
within the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP). 

–  Enhance  Euromed  co-operation 

regarding 

the 

integrated  coastal  zone 

management. 

2.4. Migration, social integration, justice and security 

Further  develop  co-operation  between  Egypt  and  EU  Member  States  judicial  and  law 
enforcement authorities  

a) Judicial cooperation in criminal and civil matters  

–  Exchange  information  on  ratification  as  well  as  implementation  of  relevant 
international  conventions  related  to  co-operation  in  criminal  and  civil  matters  to 
which either side is a party. 

–  Develop further judicial cooperation on criminal, commercial and civil matters.  

–  Facilitate  solutions  to  problems  arising  from  mixed  marriage  disputes  and  child 
custody cases and encourage cooperation in accordance with the principles of the 
UN convention of 1989 on the Rights of the Child and national legislation7. 

–  Promote 

judicial  cooperation 

law 
enforcement  and  assistant  bodies  as  well  as  through  the  training  of  judges  and 
prosecutors.  

through  strengthening 

the  capacity  of 

b) Law enforcement cooperation  

–  Explore  the  possibilities  for  co-operation  between  Egyptian  and  EU  law 

enforcement agencies, in particular Europol and Eurojust.  

–  Establish  a  network  of  contact  points  with  EU  Member  States  law  enforcement 
authorities  with  a  view  to  exchange  technical,  strategic  and  operational 
information.  

–  Promote cooperation between law enforcement agencies of the EU Member States 

and Egypt. 

c) Promoting transparency 

Exchange  information  on  ratification  and  implementation  of  the  UN  Convention  against 
Corruption and other relevant international instruments to which either side is party 

7 

This indent should not be interpreted in a way that may imply interference in cases before courts. 

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–  Develop dialogue, exchange information and strengthen cooperation between law 
enforcement  agencies  on  fighting  corruption  and  further  promote  transparency, 
including exchanges on best practices, methods and standards in these areas. 

–  Strengthen  measures  against  corruption  through  preventive  anti-corruption 
policies and practices in accordance with the UN Convention against Corruption. 

d) Border management 

Enhance border management cooperation between Egypt and the EU Member States 

–  Develop  co-operation  between  relevant  law  enforcement  bodies  in  Egypt  and  in 
the  EU,  and  initiate  appropriate  technical  contacts  with  FRONTEX  (European 
Border Agency). 

–  Cooperation 

in 

reinforcing  organisational  capacities  of  controlling  and 

surveillance of entry and exit points, including ad hoc training.  

e) Migration issues (legal and illegal migration, readmission, visa, asylum) 

–  Develop  a  comprehensive  and  balanced  dialogue  with  Egypt  on  various 
migration-related  issues,  including  legal  migration,  seasonal  migration,  status  of 
Egyptian  migrants  and  workers  residing  legally  in  Europe,  brain  drain,  asylum, 
movement of people, control of illegal migration and return, visa.  

–  Monitoring  and  analysis  of  the  migration  phenomenon:  synergy  with  the  Euro-
Med initiatives on research on migration and the Consortium on Applied Research 
on International Migration (CARIM) in particular. 

–  Promote the possibilities of Egypt to benefit from the Community programs and 
the  AENEAS  program  aimed  at  providing  technical  and  financial  assistance  to 
third countries in the areas of migration and asylum in particular. 

–  Promote the discussion between Egypt and the EU and its Member States on the 
economic,  political,  social  and  cultural  dimensions  of  the  migration  issues,  in 
addition to its security dimension. 

Ensure an effective management of migration flows 

–  Exchange  of  information  and  experiences  on  legal  migration,  entry  and  stay, 
integration, reunification of family, inventory of existing routes and commitments 
made by Member States. 

–  Enhance  cooperation  to  facilitate  the  legal  movement  of  people  between  Egypt 
and  the  EU  through  strengthening  of  the  concerned  institutions  dealing  with  the 
promotion  of  employment,  capacity  building,  as  well  as  providing  information 
about  the  employment  opportunities  for  labour  migrants  in  the  EU,  risks  of 
smuggling  and  trafficking  of  migrants;  ensuring  fair  treatment  of  legal  Egyptian 
migrants, and facilitate the flow of remittance transfers. 

–  Exchange of information and promotion of co-operation on transit migration. 

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Cooperate in combating illegal immigration into Egypt and the European Union 

–  Exchange  of  information  and  experiences  on  migratory  movements,  illegal 

migration including the scale of illegal immigration into and via Egypt.  

–  Pursue and support effort to prevent and counter illegal migration into Egypt and 

the European Union.  

–  Develop a dialogue and cooperation to curb illegal migration flows, including in 

the regional context. 

Improve cooperation regarding readmission  

–  Develop  the  cooperation  between  Egypt  and  EU  on  readmission,  including 
negotiating readmission agreements between the parties, building on Article 69 of 
the  Association  Agreement,  taking  into  account  the  human  dimension,  socio-
economic aspects and accompanying measures. 

–  Cooperation on consular affairs and issuing of travel documents. 

Facilitate the movement of persons 

–  Cooperate  in  the  field  of  improving  the  movement  of  persons,  including  to 
facilitate  the  uniform  visa  issuing  procedures  for  certain  agreed  categories  of 
persons as stated in the Association Agreement and in accordance with the acquis. 

–  Cooperate  to  improve  security  of  travel  documents  and  visa  in  conformity  with 

ICAO standards. 

Asylum issues 

–  Exchange  information  and  best  practices  in  the  field  of  asylum  policy,  refugee 
status determination, and legislation, and cooperate on the inter-linkages between 
migration and asylum.  

f) Fight against organised crime (including trafficking in human beings) 

Enhance  international  co-operation  in  accordance  with  the  UN  Convention  against  Trans-
national  Organised  Crime  and  its  protocols  on  smuggling  of  migrants  and  trafficking  in 
persons and on illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms 

–  Implementation  of  the  UN  Convention  against  Trans-national  Organised  Crime 

and its Protocols. 

–  Exchange  expertise  and  experiences,  also  through  appropriate  training  on  best 

practices in combating organised crime, including security and legal aspects. 

Cooperate in the fight against cyber crime 

–  Work together to fight cyber crime. 

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Reinforce the fight against trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, and 
smuggling of illegal migrants, as well as activities to prevent trafficking in human beings and 
to reintegrate victims 

–  Promote  co-operation  between  relevant  law  enforcement  bodies  in  Egypt  and  in 

the EU on this issue. 

–  Develop  legal,  social  and  psychological  support  to  victims  aiming  at  their 

reintegration. 

g) Fight against drugs 

Continue  the  fight  against  drug  trafficking,  including  the  trafficking  of  essential  chemicals 
and precursors, and against drug abuse in particular through prevention and rehabilitation, 
in accordance with the 1988 UN Convention on Illicit Traffic of Narcotic and Psychotropic 
Substances and with Article 58 of the AA 

–  Develop  international  cooperation  in  fight  against  trafficking  narcotics  and  drug 
addiction, in particular prevention of drugs abuse, treatment and rehabilitation of 
drug addicts.  

–  Cooperate in the implementation of the relevant UN Conventions. 

–  Support national efforts in the fight against trafficking and smuggling of narcotics 
and drug addiction as well as enhancing the capacity of the Egyptian Fund for the 
control  and  treatment  of  addiction,  and  supporting  civil  society  organisations  in 
this field. 

h) Fight against money laundering, financial and economic crime  

Strengthen  efforts  and  co-operation  in  the  fight  against  money  laundering,  financial  and 
economic crime 

–  Intensify  co-operation  and  promote  exchange  of  information  among  law 
enforcement  agencies  and  co-operation  between  Egypt  and 
international 
organisations,  such  as  FATF,  as  well  as  with  corresponding  services  of  EU 
Member States. 

–  Exchange information on the existing European structures (Financial Intelligence 

Unit (FIU)) and the existing system in Egypt as regards money laundering.  

–  Strengthen Egypt’s system of financial and security information.  

–  Identify administrative/technical support and training requirements especially for 

the Egyptian Unit on combating money laundering. 

i) Fight against terrorism 

In the framework of the counter-terrorism related UN resolutions and conventions 

–  Strengthen cooperation on measures to tackle the financing of terrorism. 

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–  Develop cooperation between Egypt and EU Member States counter-terrorism and 
law  enforcement  agencies  including  through  effective  measures  to  preclude  the 
access of terrorist elements to Egypt and EU Member States.  

–  Develop judicial cooperation on combating terrorism. 

–  Work together to fight cyber crime and to fight the use of the Internet for terrorist 

purposes. 

–  Cooperate  in  the  fight  against  terrorist  crimes  in  conformity  with  national 

legislation.  

–  Support  the  institutional  capacity  building  and  the  development  of  human 

resources and technological capabilities of law enforcement institutions. 

2.5. Science and technology, research and development, information society and audio-
visual cooperation 

a) Science and technology, research and development 

Accelerate  the  integration  of  Egypt  into  the  European  Research  Area  and  the  Community 
Framework Programme  

–  Start 

implementation  of 

the  agreement  on  Scientific  and  Technological 

Cooperation.  

–  Put  into  place  and  ensure  the  well-functioning  of  a  network  of  national  contact 
points for the 6th/7th Framework programme and link them up with the national 
RDT and innovation operators as well as with other EU Science and Technology 
activities. 

–  Pursue EU-Egypt cooperation in RDT-I, identifying the priority sectors of mutual 
interest,  the  instruments  and  means  of  cooperation  and  implementation  policies 
and strategies, including the promotion of links between centers of excellence on 
both sides.  

–  Disseminate research results to all potential users, develop a “patent culture” and 
set up intellectual property offices in technology parks and universities, including 
support for the introduction of a doctoral level programme in intellectual property 
law  in  the  framework  of  the  Agreement  on  Scientific  and  Technological 
Cooperation.  

Develop the scientific and technological capacity with a focus on the use of RTD results by 
the industrial and SME sector  

–  Strengthen  human,  material  and  institutional  resources  in  order  to  improve  the 
capacities  of  RDT-I  operators,  including  quality  evaluation  and  management 
processes.  

–  Adopt  a  strategy  for  regional  technopoles  with  a  view  to  organising  a  dialogue 
between  all  those  involved  in  research  and  end-users  (industry,  SMEs)  and 

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implementing  interaction  mechanisms  between  research  and  industry,  public-
private sector.  

–  Explore  possibilities  for  EU  support  in  the  setting  up  and  running  of  a  National 

Fund for Scientific Research and Development. 

Promote the integration of Egypt into scientific high-level exchanges 

–  Reinforce  Egypt’s  participation 

international  exchange  and  mobility 
programmes,  in  particular  the  Marie  Curie  scholarships;  foresee  appropriate 
mechanisms for return and integration to Egypt. 

in 

–  Reinforce  the  exchange  of  personnel  in  the  joint  projects  and  Centres  of 
Excellence  as  well  as  promote  and  facilitate  the  participation  of  Egyptian 
scientists in international scientific debates and fora. 

–  Promote the access of Egyptian scientists to European scientific databases.  

–  Promote the participation of Egyptian scientists in European research groups also 

in the field of innovation. 

b) Information society 

Further progress in electronic communications policy and regulation 

–  Pursue and support the implementation of the national policy on the development 

of the information society sector.  

–  Pursue  and  support  the  development  of  a  comprehensive  regulatory  framework 
that  would  fulfil  effectively  all  aspects  of  its  mandate.  Areas  of  interest  would 
include: number portability, privacy protection  and information  security, a state-
of-art  cost  accounting  system  and  subsequent  cost-orientation  of  tariffs,  users’ 
rights, and universal service obligations and management.  

–  Liberalise the fixed telephony market and continue the liberalisation of the mobile 

telephony market according to national priorities. 

–  Improve the efficiency of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority 
by  providing  capacity  building  in  areas  of  competition  and  regulation  to  ensure 
fair competition in a de-regulated market.  

Further progress in the development and use of Information Society applications 

–  Promote the use of new technologies and electronic means of communications by 
businesses,  government  and  citizens  in  areas  such  as  e-Business,  e-Government, 
e-Health, e-Learning, e-Culture and e-content. 

–  Cooperate  in  regional  eStrategies  such  as  EUMEDIS,  New  Approaches  on 

telecommunications Policies (NATP) and similar programs. 

–  Adopt a specific plan to promote the participation of Egypt in the IST part of the 
Framework Programmes as well as other EU science and technology activities.  

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–  Continue broadband development in order to increase internet penetration.  

–  Reinforce  the  skills  of  citizens and their access to ICT in order to overcome the 

digital divide. 

–  Encourage 

the  different  stakeholders 

to  contribute  efficiently 

to 

the 

implementation of the Information Society in Egypt.  

–  Exchange  experience  and  cooperate  on  Information  Society  policies  of  global 
relevance, such as Internet Governance, information security and combat against 
cyber crime, convergence between electronic communications and media. 

–  Promote  the  transfer  of  know-how  in  the  introduction  of  Information  Society 

networks and services. 

–  Improve connectivity between Egypt and Europe. 

c) Audio-visual cooperation 

Create conditions for an environment favouring co-operation in the audio-visual area  

Work towards the development of a transparent, efficient and predictable regulatory system 
including  through  the  establishment  of  an  independent  regulatory  authority  in  the  audio-
visual sector 

–  Promote an exchange of views on audiovisual policy. 

–  Encourage the exchange of information and experience with regard to regulatory 

aspects of the audiovisual sector. 

–  Strengthen human resource capacities and exchange of experience in the domains 

of audiovisual. 

2.6. People-to-people contacts 

a) Culture  

Enhance cultural co-operation between Egypt and EU and its Member States 

–  Enhance cooperation through exchange of information, experience and expertise, 
in cultural sectors  in  line with  Article  71  of  the AA, in  particular  as regards the 
protection of historic monuments and cultural heritage, promotion of translations 
as well as capacity building and communication skills development. 

–  Enhance  Egypt’s  participation 

the  relevant  EC  cultural  cooperation 
programmes  of  the  Euro-Med  partnership  inter  alia  by  developing  appropriate 
structures. 

in 

Dialogue between cultures 

–  Enhance  dialogue  between  cultures,  taking  into  consideration  the  principles 
embodied  in  the  Action  Programme  for  the  Dialogue  between  Cultures  and 

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Civilizations,  adopted  by  the  Valencia  Ministerial  Meeting  in  April  2002  and 
taking advantage of Egypt’s hosting Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation 
for the dialogue between cultures. 

–  Exchange views on the UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of 
the  diversity  of  cultural  expressions  including  its  development  aspects,  and 
promote its ratification and cooperate in its implementation. 

–  Promote initiatives aiming at bringing closer cultures and civilizations.  

b) Youth and sport issues  

Enhance co-operation in the field of youth and sport  

–  Enhance  youth  exchanges  and  co-operation  in  the  field  of  non-formal  education 

and intercultural dialogue. 

–  Promote  mutual  knowledge  among  Egyptian  and  European  youths  of  their 

respective cultures and fostering tolerance. 

–  Provide  the  best  practices  in  establishing  national  councils  for  youth  in  EU 

Member States and on drafting youth policies. 

–  Promote a dialogue between EU and Egypt on sport issues. 

–  Exchange  of  experience  with  the  EU  Member  States  on  the  management  of 

various sports sectors.  

–  Ensure  the  continued  successful  implementation  of  the  Euro-Med  Youth 

programme by developing an effective national management structure. 

c) Civil society co-operation 

–  Examine the scope for further improving the legal and administrative framework 

for the operation of civil society organizations.  

–  Support the Egyptian Non-Governmental Organizations in contributing effectively 
in  the  economic,  political  and  social  development  process  in  accordance  with 
national legislation. 

3. Joint monitoring 

The Action Plan will give orientation for the cooperation between the EU and Egypt.  

The joint bodies established under the Association Agreement will advance and monitor the 
implementation of the Action Plan on the basis of regular reports on its implementation. 

A first review of the implementation of the Action Plan will be undertaken within two years 
of its adoption. 

The  Action  Plan  can  be  regularly  amended  and/or  updated  jointly  to  reflect  progress  in 
addressing the priorities. 

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Glossaire 

EASA: European Aviation Safety Agency 

ECAA: Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority 

EUMEDIS: Euro-Mediterranean Information Society 

FATF: Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering 

FDI: Foreign Direct Investments 

FEMIP: Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership 

GATS: General Agreement on Trade in Services 

GFCM: General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean 

ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization 

ICT: Information and Communication Technology 

IPPC: International Plant Protection Convention 

ILO: International Labour Organisation 

IMO: International Maritime Organization 

IPR : Intellectual Property Rights 

ISPS: International Ship and Port Facility Security 

IST: Information Society Technologies 

JAA Joint Aviation Authorities 

MARPOL: International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships 

NCHR: National Council for Human Rights 

NEPAD: New Partnership for Africa’s Development 

OECD : Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 

OIE: Organisation Mondiale de la Santé Animale 

R&D: Research and Development 

RDT-I: Research, Technological Development and Innovation 

SME: Small and Medium Enterprises 

SOLAS: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 

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TAIEX: Technical Assistance Information Exchange 

TRIPS : trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights  

TVET: technical vocational education and training 

UNSC : United Nations Security Council 

VTMIS: Vessel Traffic Management and Information Systems 

WMD : Weapons of Mass Destruction 

WTO: World Trade Organization 

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