Egypt, EU sign today partnership agreement
Egypt-European Union, Politics, 6/25/2001

Egypt and the European Union will sign on Monday a partnership agreement in Luxembourg.

"Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher will sign for Egypt, while Swedish Foreign Minister Annah Lindh, whose country holds the current EU Presidency, will sign for the EU, together with Chris Patten," the EU Commissioner.

Fourteen European Foreign Ministers will witness the signing ceremony.

Some 300 European dignitaries will attend the event, to be aired by international television stations.

"Maher, who arrived in Brussels Sunday coming from Washington, will address the ceremony on the importance of the partnership agreement in boosting relations," an Egyptian diplomat said.

The agreement, which was inked in Arabic, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Spanish and Swedish, comprises 14 chapters with 92 items on all Egyptian-European relationship aspects.

It is divided into three axes; political and security, economic and financial and so cial, cultural and consular.

The source added that the agreement, once put into effect, would replace Egypt's agreement with the European economic group and the European group signed in Brussels in 1977.

Meantime, Ahmed Maher has said that a partnership agreement to be signed by Egypt and the European Union would help modernize the national industry and open up new markets for Egyptian products.

The fact that the transitional period for implementing the pact takes up to l9 years would enable the national industry to cope with the new situations, improve its output and enhance its competitiveness, the minister told reporters in Washington.

Maher, who Saturday wrapped up his first visit to the US as Egypt's Foreign Minister, is due to fly in Luxembourg to sign the long negotiated accord with the EU.

He added that Egypt's steps towards sealing the accord with the EU had been well studied. He said that during his stay in Luxembourg he would discuss with his EU counterparts the importance of implementing the pact in good faith. Both aides initialled the agreement in last January.

Previous Stories:
  Maher signs Egypt-EU partnership agreement in Luxembourg   (6/24/2001)
  Mubarak gives directives to sign partnership agreement with EU on June 26   (6/22/2001)
  Ebeid, EU representative to expand cooperation   (6/13/2001)

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