The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political union between 27 European countries. The EU and Egypt began diplomatic relations in 1966. They cooperate to support the domestic and political reforms in the country.
The relationship emphasizes close cooperation on democratic reform, economic modernization, social reform, and migration issues. The current agenda of EU-Egypt relations is spelled out in an Action Plan under the European Neighborhood Policy.
Relations between the European Union and Egypt are governed by an Association Agreement which entered into force on 1 June 2004.
The EU-Egypt Action Plan (AP) with its various sectors' coverage had an important part to play concerning the Information Society. The dialogue between the two sides, in regards to the information society, is maintained through the subcommittee meetings on information society, audiovisual, research and innovation, education and culture.
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is a unique Mediterranean institution bringing together 42 countries (27 EU member states and 15 Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries). It aims at enhancing cooperation and partnership in the Mediterranean through the implementation of specific regional cooperation projects.
UfM is a multilateral partnership created to increase the potential for regional integration and cohesion among Euro-Mediterranean partners. UfM meetings are chaired by a co-presidency, one from the EU side and the other from the Mediterranean side. It applies to all levels: summits, ministerial meetings, and officials’ level meetings.
Egypt was the co-president from 2008 till 2012. Egypt is also the Arab Coordinator for the South Mediterranean Countries.
In light of this cooperation, Egypt has participated in several technical events for the output documents to be included in the deceleration topics in the UfM Ministerial meeting on the Digital Economy that took place in September 2014, the Southern Mediterranean Dialogue on e-Communications and the Information Society, the Final Exploratory Seminar on e-Signatures for e-Business Transactions in the Southern Mediterranean Region and the Ad-hoc Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in light of the preparation for the UfM Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting.
