Following recent dramatic events in Egypt and increasing tensions in Ukraine - Russia relations, the Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok MEP, has scheduled an extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the morning of Wednesday, 28 August 2013 to discuss in the presence of high-ranking EU officials how the EU should respond to these developments.

"We cannot stand by and watch the situation in Egypt deteriorate day by day. The EU should try and facilitate a political solution to the crisis, a solution which is as inclusive as possible and which leads not only to new free and fair elections but also to a constitutional reform which respects and guarantees the rights of all components of the Egyptian society," said Mr Brok.

"We also need to assess the poEPPlitical implications of recent threats made by Russia that it might restrict trade with Ukraine in case the country signs an association and free-trade agreement with the European Union. This is a serious development which could cast a heavy shadow on the forthcoming Summit in Vilnius".

The meeting will take place in the European Parliament on Wednesday 28 August. It will be public and open to the media. 

For further information:

Elmar BROK MEP, BRU - Phone: +32 (0)2 2845323

Lasse Böhm, EPP Group Press and Communications Service,  Phone: +32 484 656897

Note to Editors

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 275 Members from 27 Member States.