European Union leaders warned Egypt's authorities the EU would review its ties with the country unless the violence ended.
‘’Recent developments in Egypt, and more particularly the violence of the last days, are extremely worrying,’’ said Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso, respectively presidents of the European Council and of the European Commission, in a joint statement.
‘’Egypt is a key partner of the European Union. We share interests in and responsbility for the maintenance of peace and stability in a strategic region. Further escalation must be prevented. It could have unpredictable consequences for Egypt and for its broader neighbourhood,’’ they said.
‘’We regret deeply that international efforts and proposals for building bridges and establishing an inclusive political process, to which the EU contributed actively, were set aside and a course of confrontation was instead pursued. This path will not succeed. It is crucial that violence ends immediately,’’ the statement added.
‘’While all should exert maximum restraint, we underline the particular responsibility of the interim authorities and of the army in bringing clashes to a halt. The violence and the killings of these last days cannot be justified nor condoned. Human rights must be respected and upheld. Political prisoners should be released.’’
‘’There is no alternative to dialogue. All the Egyptian political forces must recommit to the country's democratic future and engage in a political process leading to the early holding of elections and the establishment of a civilian government. This was also the commitment proclaimed by the interim Government when it assumed power. The Egyptian Army must respect and support such a political process,’’ the EU leaders stressed.
They said ‘’the EU will remain firmly engaged in efforts to promote an end to violence, resumption of political dialogue and return to a democratic process.’’ ‘’To this effect, together with its Member States, the EU will urgently review in the coming days its relations with Egypt and adopt measures aimed at pursuing these goals.’’
Senior diplomats from the 28 EU member states meet Monday in Brussels for emergency discussions on Egypt which are expected to be followed in the next few days by a meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers on this issue.
The EU has pledged nearly five billion euros in loans and grants for Egypt for 2012-2013.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have raised the possibility of the EU reviewing its cooperation with Egypt.