Tensions between Sisi and Europe intensify

Relations between Europe and Egypt have been strained lately following the EU’s calls on President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi to release ousted Egyptian President, Mohamed Morsi and to transfer power in Egypt to civilian institutions.

Following the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels in 2013, Al-Sisi undertook a series of visits to European countries including Italy, the Vatican and then France to address EU officials and contain the situation. However, condemnation of the Egyptian regime and Al-Sisi by human rights organisations continued.

The latest blow sustained by the Egyptian regime came when the European Union announced that it would not send a delegation to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections prompting the regime’s supporters to demand it to send delegations to meet with EU officials, especially EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, to end the crisis.

Mohammad Zarei, an activist, lawyer and head of the Arab Penal Reform Organisation, said that Egypt received two painful blows from the European Union, the first came when the EU announced its reject of the human rights situation in Egypt under the current regime while the second strike came when the European Parliament decided not to send a delegation to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Zarei pointed out that the European Parliament’s decision constituted a great loss because the elections were the first of their kind since Morsi’s ouster.

He called on the Egyptian authorities to make more diplomatic efforts on the ground to correct European opinions about the situation of the ground, pointing out that Egypt needs the EU’s support during the coming period especially during the war on terror.

Zarei said that Egypt could send a delegation to Europe to meet with officials there and clarify facts about the human rights situation in Egypt and the war on terrorism.

Hamdi Fakhrani, a former legislator, called on the Egyptian political parties to move and respond to the EU’s recent statements about the country’s human rights record.

He pointed out that Al-Sisi can solve this crisis by working to improve his relations with European countries and by limiting the Muslim Brotherhood movement which seeks to destabilise Egypt.

Political expert Assem Abdel-Azim said that similar statements issued by the European Union represent political pressure on Egypt and come at a time when Egypt has invited 3,000 public figures and Arab and foreign investors to attend an economic conference in March, which would push economic development in Egypt that could lead to political stability.

Azim said that Egypt has several plans to change European opinion, mainly to rely on influential figures such as Ashton to address the European countries and persuade them to change their views on the human rights and the democratic process in Egypt.

Meanwhile, Amr Adel, a leader in Al-Wasat Party, said: “All European governments’ procedures are theatrical actions. They did not take any action against the gang that carried out an armed robbery on power in Egypt.”

He added that the European Parliament has no real powers and does not reflect the true orientation of the European governments and regimes.

Adel ruled out that the European Union would change its political strategy towards Egypt in the future; describing what is happening as “mere games”, pointing out that attempts to pressure the Egyptian regime are aimed at achieving greater control over Egypt and the region.