In a joint statement today, Joseph Daul MEP, EPP Group Chairman and Ioannis Kasoulides MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group responsible for external relations, welcome the Declaration on Egypt, adopted by the EU's Foreign Affairs Ministers on Monday.

"The European Union must continue to insist that the fundamental civic rights of the Egyptian people must be respected. They must be granted the right to peaceful assembly and association and to the freedom of expression. Their right to determine their own destiny has to be respected", said the two EPP Group leaders.

"We welcome the fact that the Council has called on the Egyptian authorities to seek a peaceful and constructive way forward. The EPP Group condemns any use of violence, as violence does not address any of the problems expressed by the Egyptian people in the demonstrations and protests during the past week".

The EPP Group calls for the freedom of information and expresses its dissatisfaction with the decision of the authorities to block the usage of Internet and mobile phones. The EPP Group also calls for immediate steps for socioeconomic support of the weaker echelons of the population and for the opening of investigations against such striking cases of corruption.

"A normalised transition towards a peaceful, pluralist and stable Egypt has now become urgent, and the process must be sustained by the European Union and all its Member States. The current Egyptian leadership must not become an obstacle to that process", said the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the largest and most influential political group in the European Parliament.

For further information:
Joseph DAUL MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, Tel: +32-2-2847525
Ioannis KASOULIDES MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845155
Antoine Ripoll, Chairman's Spokesman, Tel: +32-475-856290
Peter Adler, EPP Group Press & Communications Service, Tel: +32-474-203005

Notes to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 265 Members.