Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part^f1 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Agreement’) was signed on 25 June 2001 and entered into force on 1 June 2004.

A joint communication by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and by the European Commission of 18 November 2015 on the Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy was welcomed in the Council conclusions of 14 December 2015, where, inter alia, the Council confirmed the intention to start a new phase of engagement with partners in 2016 which could lead to the setting of new partnership priorities, where appropriate, focused on agreed priorities and interests.

The Union and Egypt have agreed to consolidate their partnership by agreeing on a set of priorities for the period 2017-2020 with the aim of addressing common challenges facing the Union and Egypt, to promote joint interests and to guarantee long-term stability on both sides of the Mediterranean.

The EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities are guided by a shared commitment to the universal values of democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights.

The position of the Union within the Association Council set up by the Agreement should therefore be based on the draft Recommendation of the Association Council attached to this Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: