(ANSAmed) - STRASBOURG, MARCH 13 - The consequences of an economic collapse in Egypt would be devastating and Europe cannot allow this to happen, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Wednesday at the European Parliament.
Europe will therefore continue working alongside its international partners to push for the finalization of the International Monetary Fund arrangement, which would enable the EU to mobilize macro-financial assistance of 500 million euros, she said.
The EU foreign policy chief underscored concerns over the rights of women in Egypt, who suffer ''violence and harassment''. She said that the EU would not remain silent about fundamental rights issues, but that ''at the same time we have to help meet the socio-economic expectations, both the goals of the revolution and the aspirations of the Egyptian people''. Ashton noted the work of Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU special representative for human rights who reported ''police abuse'' and drew attention to the difficult situation of NGOs working in Egypt. She said that ''we have stressed the importance of ensuring a favorable environment for civil society and encouraged the adoption of a new NGO law that ensures NGO transparency while respecting the independence of Civil Society from government control, that eliminates burdensome registration procedures, that does not subject NGO activities to prior government approval on the basis of their alleged 'usefulness to society', and that does not limit or demonize NGO funding''.
(ANSAmed).
Europe will therefore continue working alongside its international partners to push for the finalization of the International Monetary Fund arrangement, which would enable the EU to mobilize macro-financial assistance of 500 million euros, she said.
The EU foreign policy chief underscored concerns over the rights of women in Egypt, who suffer ''violence and harassment''. She said that the EU would not remain silent about fundamental rights issues, but that ''at the same time we have to help meet the socio-economic expectations, both the goals of the revolution and the aspirations of the Egyptian people''. Ashton noted the work of Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU special representative for human rights who reported ''police abuse'' and drew attention to the difficult situation of NGOs working in Egypt. She said that ''we have stressed the importance of ensuring a favorable environment for civil society and encouraged the adoption of a new NGO law that ensures NGO transparency while respecting the independence of Civil Society from government control, that eliminates burdensome registration procedures, that does not subject NGO activities to prior government approval on the basis of their alleged 'usefulness to society', and that does not limit or demonize NGO funding''.
(ANSAmed).