Boag asserts need to sanction Egyptian-Eu partnership agreement
Egypt-European Union, Economics, 7/19/2001

European Union (EU) Ambassador in Cairo Ian Boag Wednesday asserted the need to accelerate the sanctioning of the Egyptian-EU partnership agreement, signed by Egypt in Luxembourg on June. Addressing the first press Conference he holds in Cairo since he assumed office, Boag said the agreement will bring prosperity to Egypt especially in term of the advantages of Egyptian exports to European markets.

Asked by MENA on the EU effort to endorse the Egyptian government's program on modernizing the industry sector he said Egypt is serious in implementing the economic and financial reform program and genuinely plans to modernize industry.

The EU is ready to provide all means of support to the Egyptian government's efforts in this respect, he added. Egypt is considered an important industrial basis that needs modernization in order to compete in European and non-European markets in light of globalization policy, he said. He underscored the importance of Egypt's participation in the Doha conference which will arrange for the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) conference.

He hailed cooperation between Egypt and the EU states even before signing the agreement, pointing out that the agreement signed between the two countries in 1978 was prior to the Barcelona process. This proves that the EU was number one trade partner of Egypt, he said.

He denied that the agreement was imposed on Egypt or has created problems to the country. However, he said, it covers all fields of cooperation namely the economic, trade, political, social and technical one.

Negotiations on the agreement has been going on for years and Egypt has gained what was suitable for it, he pointed out.

He referred to continued political, economic and trade dialogues between the Egyptian government and the European Union.

Asked on the trial of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon before a Belgian court and the EU's view regarding accusations levelled against Sharon as a war criminal, the EU official said such trials concern Belgian judges alone and the fact that Belgium currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the EU has nothing to do with this trial.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt will strive to meet European standards   (7/14/2001)
  International Institutions welcome positive annual growth of Egypt's economy   (6/29/2001)
  Egyptian European partnership agreement opens new marketing vistas   (6/16/2001)

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