Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



EU offers Egypt 1 billion euros in aid
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 14 - 09 - 2012

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, right, speaks with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi during a meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday. This is Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's first trip to the European Union since being elected president. — AP

BRUSSELS – EU leaders offered Egypt more than a billion euros in aid and better trade as President Mohamed Morsi flew in for his first visit to Europe pledging to support democratic values and protect foreigners.
Praising Morsi for offering reassurances on his “unwavering commitment” to democratic values and fundamental freedoms, European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso told a news briefing that “Egypt can count on the European Union.
“I reiterated to President Morsi our commitment to work with Egypt's democratically elected authorities to build a democratic, free, open, prosperous Egypt,” he said.
The EU was making available 449 million euros to Egypt for 2011-2013 but was “willing to do much more,” Barroso said.
He offered 500 million euros (640 million) extra in macro financial assistance – on condition Egypt clinches a $4.8 billion IMF loan – and budget support of 150-200 million euros for the country's economic recovery.
The head of the EU executive also said the world's largest trading bloc, with its half a billion people, was ready to start negotiations with Cairo on a “deep” free trade deal.
The 27-nation bloc is already Egypt's top trading partner, accounting for a third of its foreign trade, but Barroso said there was “still a great potential to explore.”
Egypt's future is viewed as vital in Brussels, keen on strengthening economic ties with the Arab Spring nations while shoring up developed democracies in its backyard in the interest of Europe's security.
“Europe's engagement with democracies in the southern Mediterranean will mark the role that Europe will play in the coming decades,” said a senior EU official who asked not to be named. “This is an historic visit,” said the official. Morsi meanwhile slammed “attacks” on Islam, citing a US-made film that has sparked outcry, but condemned violence including the Tuesday attack in the Libyan city of Benghazi that left four American officials dead, including the US ambassador.
“We Egyptians reject any kind of assault or insult against our Prophet,” he said. “(But) it is our duty to protect our guests and visitors from abroad.” He also pledged to continue upholding democratic values and freedoms, several times stressing his commitment to respect the equality of all Egyptians. – Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.