The Egyptian Government allotted special attention to the economic tools in the framework of activating the implementation of foreign policy tools and employing them in attaining strategic benefits on the political, economic and social levels and ensuring luxurious life for the Egyptian people. Among these tools lies the partnership between Egypt and the European Community which started in the mid seventies by concluding the Co-operation Agreement.
The Agreement included provisions on the liberalization of services, the free movement of capital, competition rules, strengthening economic co-operation on the widest possible basis, co-operation on social matters, as well as cultural co-operation. In addition, the Agreement confirms the existence of free trade in manufactured goods and reinforces arrangements for free trade in industrial products. The Agreement has come in the context of the Egyptian implementation of an economic reform program.
The Co-operation Agreement has governed the bilateral relations between Egypt and the EU and contributed in defining the economic cooperation between the two parties. In accordance with this Agreement, Egyptian imports enjoyed free access to EU; as for the EU industrial exports to Egypt had obtained the special treatment of the most-favored-nation. After signing the Protocol in 1987, the Egyptian agricultural products gained a preferential treatment in their access to the EU markets; this special treatment is represented in customs tariffs and exports schedules.
Objectives of Egyptian-European Partnership
Article one in the Agreement stipulated the following objectives:
1. Providing appropriate atmosphere to open a political dialogue allows for developing strong relations between the two parties.
2. Preparing the conditions for liberalization of goods, services and capital trade.
3. Providing support for promoting balanced economic and social relations between the two parties through maintaining dialogue and cooperation.
4. Contribution in economic and social development in Egypt.
5. Encouraging regional cooperation for establishing peaceful coexistence as well as economic and political stability.
6. Developing cooperation in the fields enjoying of common interest. e relations between the involved parties.presented in the
Validity of the Agreement
Egypt – Europe Cooperation Agreement is considered to be valid until one of the parties terminates it. The terminator has to notify the other party and the Agreement becomes invalid after 12 months off the notification date.
Political and security File
This file is considered part of the political and security framework which is stipulated by Barcelona Declaration in 1995. This Declaration is an ambitious and far-reaching document which will remain in modern history as the first attempt to create durable and strong bonds between the shores of the Mediterranean. It is based upon the mechanism of the political dialogue mentioned in Article 2 of the Agreement to attain the following:
1. Strengthening traditional ties as well as common values, UN principles, democracy, and human rights in accordance with the international declaration.
2. Promoting regional security and stability, encouraging common initiatives and supporting the ME Peace Process.
3. Opening a political dialogue between the Egyptian People's Assembly and the European Parliament.
4. Enabling each party to consider the other's stances and interests.
5. Maintaining a political dialogue around issues of common interests.
6. Taking into consideration the variance in levels of development between Egypt and the EU.
Egypt and the Euro – Mediterranean Dialogue
Mediterranean Forum (Barcelona)
The Egyptian Political Thought within the Mediterranean Approach
The Mediterranean, through which the European culture is transferred to the Arabian land, has played a significant role in the Egyptian history. That is why Egypt looks forward to take a crucial part in the region. This could be attributed to some facts which state that the Egyptian and the Mediterranean cultures are almost the same, hence their ties are inevitable. In addition, Egypt's stability leads to trade refreshment and prosperity in the Mediterranean harbors. These so-called facts necessitate the presence of the Mediterranean dimension to help in establishing Egypt's regional role as well as its international cultural message. On the other hand, the Mediterranean area is the heart of the world, the witness of the nascence of divine religions, and the cradle of ancient cultures. Thus, Egypt's concern to adopt the Mediterranean dimension in its Foreign Policy is considered a push forward for a better future to the Egyptian people.
The Mediterranean Approach in the Egyptian National Security:
Despite the fact that the Mediterranean dimension, according to Egypt, comes next to other dimensions, the most important is the Arab dimension, it enables Egypt to establish a network of economical, political and cultural relations with Europe as well as promoting Egypt's role in the Arab region to form Euro-Arab alliance through the Mediterranean to achieve unification (on the European level).
This approach is considered as a contributor in promoting Egypt National Security which faces threats after Egypt's unique status has been altered in the field of international communication – as Egypt is considered a conjunction especially after the opening of Suez Canal. According to the fact that his change may affect the National Security of the country, Egypt adopted this Mediterranean approach by giving an intense heed to sea and not restricting it to land only to attain the National Security which in return will establish Arab National Security.
Egypt's Mediterranean Foreign Policy:
The Egyptian foreign policy relies upon many basics:
1. Egypt's position in the heart of the Arab world has given it the priority of leadership.
2. The leading role played by Egypt in the Islamic world.
3. Its unique position in the African continent that made Egypt exceeds the concept of just belonging to Africa.
Egypt has good relations with the Maghreb countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania) and this is attributed to the fact that Egypt is the most closest to Europe and being in good coordination with the European economic committee.
Egyptian Efforts towards convening the Mediterranean Forum:
The idea of convening this forum goes back to the date 20 November 1994 in Strasbourg when President Mubarak suggested establishing an assembly gathers the Mediterranean countries on the condition that it includes all the European countries as well as those of the Mediterranean. This forum is intended to serve as an assembly provides concepts of dialogue, cooperation and integration in all social sectors in Europe, Mediterranean and ME region to solve conflicts of common interest.
Egypt's initiative to establish this forum had the following objectives:
Achieving a comprehensive as well as objective cooperation between the countries in the region. This cooperation has to include all the political, scientific, cultural, and social fields and to be on official and non-official levels.
Gaining benefits from previous cooperation activities which resulted in good relations to contribute in making better common future. So, Egypt's well-defined discourse contributed highly in the establishment of this forum and the discussions resulted in agreeing upon convening a meeting gathers the French, Italian, Spanish, Moroccan, Greek, Portuguese, Algerian, Turkish, and Tunisian foreign ministers, in addition to Malta that joined them afterwards. This group is referred to as “nucleus group” and it's concluded that the meeting would be convened in Alexandria.
Alexandria meeting and its results:
What gives importance to this meeting is that it is considered the first ministerial meeting in which the basics of establishing the Mediterranean forum are discussed.
Alexandria meeting resulted in several issues such as:
a) Agreeing upon the necessity of convening such forum in a kind of a framework that guarantees continuous cooperation in the Mediterranean.
b) Agreeing upon convening a series of consultations and discussions in different fields in order to deepen communications and create appropriate conditions for periodic meetings.
c) Agreeing upon convening ministerial meeting at the beginning of the year 1995 in France to discuss consultations' results.
d) Inviting the closer countries to participate in the “nucleus group” to reach the concept of inclusive regionalism.
As for the second meeting, it was concluded that it would take place on November 1995 in Barcelona, Spain.
The Egyptian participation in Barcelona Conference and other Conferences:
Barcelona Conference:
Despite the differences occurred between the European and Non-European parties concerning each ones' priorities, the key purpose of this conference was to create general economical and cultural partnership in a new context of relations between the countries of the union. This difference represented in the different issues the two parties focused upon; in the time the Arab countries focused on issues as development, upgrading economy, opening the chance for foreign investments, establishing Euro-Mediterranean free trade area and improving the trade sector, the European countries focused on other issues such as terrorism, migration, human rights, and democracy.
The conference wrapped up its proceedings on November 28th 1995 and concluded that the necessity of an inclusive cooperation between Mediterranean countries to face the common challenges that require comprehensive and coordinated solutions is essential.
The participants agreed upon:
a) Strengthening cooperation to fight terrorism in every possible way.
b) Fighting against organized crime and combating drugs with all its biological forms; in addition to the prohibition of owning large military capabilities represented in traditional weapons and sticking to international and regional systems as well as disarmament agreements.
c) Showing respect to human rights and freedom, working in accordance with UN charter, confessing each party's freedom in choosing and setting its political, economical, social, and justice apparatus, combating racism and hatred towards foreigners
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