Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12866 | 01 February 2012

The political transition in Egypt

Signatories: Mr Jean-Charles GARDETTO, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Mr Pedro AGRAMUNT, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Deborah BERGAMINI, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Jean-Marie BOCKEL, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU, Turkey, EDG ; Mr Jeffrey DONALDSON, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Andreas GROSS, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Susanna HUOVINEN, Finland, SOC ; Mr Tiny KOX, Netherlands, UEL ; Ms Kerstin LUNDGREN, Sweden, ALDE ; Mr Pietro MARCENARO, Italy, SOC ; Ms Nursuna MEMECAN, Turkey, ALDE ; Ms Elsa PAPADIMITRIOU, Greece, EPP/CD ; Mr Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Greece, UEL ; Mr Gabino PUCHE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Bernard SABELLA, Palestine ; Mr Björn von SYDOW, Sweden, SOC ; Lord John E. TOMLINSON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Latchezar TOSHEV, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Mr Luca VOLONTÈ, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Konstantinos VRETTOS, Greece, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

In its Resolution 1831 (2011), adopted in October 2011, on co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Arab world, the Parliamentary Assembly has expressed its great interest and concern regarding the evolution of the “Arab spring” which has already brought about the most dramatic changes in the region since the 1950s.

In this resolution the Assembly welcomed, amongst others, the encouraging developments in Egypt and fully supported the process of democratic transition in this country. The Assembly also called on the authorities of Egypt “to create a climate of trust before and during the forthcoming elections in their countries, so that the populations go to vote, and to take all adequate measures to ensure that these elections are free and fair in order to give appropriate legitimacy to the new institutions.” Elections are currently being held in Egypt.

Following the visit of a delegation from the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to Cairo and discussions with representatives of political parties, civil society and media, as well as the Chief of the Intelligence Services of the country, representatives of Egyptian political parties were subsequently invited for an exchange of views with the Committee in October and December 2011. They have all insisted on the importance of strengthening ties between the Assembly and Egypt and offering political support to the currently on-going process of democratic transition.

We believe that, given the greatly important geopolitical role of Egypt and the impact that political and constitutional developments in this county may have on the whole region of the Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East, it is of outmost importance that our Assembly, greatly interested in developments in these regions, follow closely, the situation in Egypt and the process of political transition and further develop its contacts with both politicians and civil society in this country.