Egypt – European Union trade agreement in works despite freedom of expression and other violations

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 15 June 1999 ARTICLE 19 letter to European Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan regarding the proposed Egypt – European Union trade agreement: Sir Leon Brittan European Trade Commissioner European Commission 200 rue de la Loi B-1049 Brussels 15 June 1999 Dear Sir Leon ARTICLE 19 is concerned that […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 15 June 1999 ARTICLE 19 letter to
European Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan regarding the proposed Egypt –
European Union trade agreement:

Sir Leon Brittan
European Trade Commissioner
European Commission
200 rue de la Loi
B-1049 Brussels

15 June 1999

Dear Sir Leon

ARTICLE 19 is concerned that the European Union is about to conclude a trade
partnership with Egypt under the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements,
in view of the Egyptian government’s flagrant disregard for its human rights
obligations under the Barcelona Declaration of 1995. We ask that you raise
these considerations as germane to the signing of any agreement when the
matter arises at the General Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe – I
understand that this might well be during the meeting on 21/22 June.

Under the Barcelona Declaration, agreed by the European and Mediterranean
countries in November 1995, Egypt has committed itself to “respect human
rights and fundamental freedoms and guarantee the effective legitimate
exercise of such rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression,
freedom association for peaceful purposes and freedom of thought, conscience
and religion”.

In fact, to date, the Egyptian government has singularly failed to meet its
obligations in this regard. The proposed Law on Associations, agreed by the
government, is the latest case in point. Among the powers which the
government seeks to introduce to control non-governmental organisations are:

directly to control the composition of their boards by vetoing candidates
and reserving the right to appoint government representatives;

allowing the authorities to define the area in which NGOs work;

requiring organisations to obtain official permission to operate;

controlling the flow of foreign funding to civil society organisations;

The power to dissolve any NGO which the government considers to have
exceeded its mandate or breached a broad range of boundaries.

Breaches of this law would lead to prison sentences and substantial fines.
Local human rights organisations are extremely alarmed at the potential
which it would offer to restrict their legitimate right to expression and
action.

Such limitations on civil society are in clear breach of the Barcelona
Declaration and a number of other international legal obligations, including
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

ARTICLE 19 is also concerned by other ways in which the Egyptian government
continues to curb freedom of expression, particularly in terms of the media.
Independent media find it difficult to operate in the face of constant
official harassment and interference, and there is still an active state
censor.

As Trade Commissioner, I am sure you will appreciate the vital importance of
ensuring that both general and bilateral undertakings on human rights are
upheld by Europe’s trading partners, and given full weight in reaching
association agreements. As far as ARTICLE 19 is aware, there is no
transparent monitoring, reporting and enforcement regime for the Barcelona
Declaration. Establishment of such a mechanism would go a long way towards
supporting this crucial part of the Euro-Mediterranean trading partnerships.
The benefits for trade of an environment supportive of democracy, free media
and open government cannot be underestimated.

I hope that you will pass our concerns on to the General Affairs Council to
take into consideration when they meet to discuss the EU-Egypt trade
association – I understand that this might be on 20/21 June in Luxembourg.

I look forward to hearing your views on this important matter.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Puddephatt
Executive Director

Recommended Action

Appeals To

Sir Leon Brittan

European Trade Commissioner

European Commission

200 rue de la Loi

B-1049 Brussels

Fax: +32 2 299 4686

and to foreign ministers of European Union countries

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.