Egyptian-European Council, modernizing Egypt's industrial sector
Egypt-European Union, Economics, 9/16/2000

The European Union (EU) responded to Egypt's demands over the two-side partnership agreement.

The EU said Egypt has the right to protest especially against some measures dealing with Egyptian goods exported to the EU member states in different ways.

An agreement was reached to eliminate restrictions on the movement of the Egyptian exports among EU member states.

Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Youssef Boutros Ghali said the EU agreed to reconsider some issues Egypt had raised before the signature of the agreement. It was decided to set up a higher board to settle any possible dispute that may crop up.

"The signature will be made only after more studies by the two sides," he added.

During his recent visit to Belgium, Ghali met with both EU's commissoners for foreign affairs and foreign trade for talks on suspended topics.

The EU commissioners for Foreign Trade admitted that some points in the agreement are still "vague" as Egypt announced before. He also called for more clarification for the sake of Egypt.

The EU expressed understanding of Egypt's demands over other issues that require further dialogue with the EU's 15 member states.

Ghali, on his part, indicated that these trade issues will be discussed through the projected board which is to be an independent mechanism, with the authority to amend these points of differences even following the signature.

"It will settle any dispute immediately to avoid any danger Egypt may sustain, " Ghali said.

It is noteworthy that both sides probed ways of modernizing Egypt's industrial sector. Furthermore, it was agreed to protect the Egyptian commodities against any administrative restriction to be imposed by the EU.

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