The Parties recognise that information and communication technologies constitute a key element of modern society, vital to economic and social development and a cornerstone of the emerging information society.
The cooperation activities between the Parties in this field shall aim at :
- a dialogue on issues related to the different aspects of the information society, including telecommunications policies,
- the exchanges of information and eventual technical assistance with regulatory matters, standardisation, conformity testing and certification in relation to information technologies and telecommunications,
- the diffusion of new information and communications technologies and the refinement of new applications in these fields,
- the implementation of joint projects for research, technical development or industrial applications in information technologies, communications, telematics and information society,
- the participation of Egyptian organisations in pilot projects and European programmes within the established frameworks,
- interconnection between networks and the interoperability of telematic services in the Community and Egypt.
Article 53. Energy
The priority areas of cooperation shall be:
- the promotion of renewable energies,
- the promotion of energy-saving and energy efficiency,
- applied research into data bank networks in the economic and social sectors, linking Community and Egyptian operators in particular,
- support for the modernisation and development of energy networks and for their linking to European Community networks.
Article 54. Tourism
Priorities for cooperation shall be:
- promoting investments in tourism,
- improving the knowledge of the tourist industry and ensuring greater consistency of policies affecting tourism,
- promoting a good seasonal spread of tourism,
- promoting cooperation between regions and cities of neighbouring countries,
- highlighting the importance of the cultural heritage for tourism,
- ensuring that the interaction between tourism and the environment is suitably maintained,
- making tourism more competitive through support for increased professionalism.
Article 55. Customs
1. The Parties shall develop customs cooperation to ensure that the provisions on trade are observed. Cooperation will focus in particular on:
(a) the simplification of controls and procedures concerning the customs clearance of goods;
(b) the introduction of the single administrative document and a system to link up the Community's and Egypt's transit arrangements.
2. Without prejudice to other forms of cooperation envisaged in this Agreement, notably for the fight against drugs and money laundering, the Parties' administrations will provide mutual assistance in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 5.
Article 56. Cooperation on Statistics
The main objective of cooperation in this field shall be to harmonise methodology in order to create a reliable basis for handling statistics in all the fields that are covered by this Agreement and lend themselves to the establishment of statistics.
Article 57. Money Laundering
1. The Parties shall cooperate with a view in particular to preventing the use of their financial systems to launder the proceeds arising from criminal activities in general and drug trafficking in particular.
2. Cooperation in this field shall include, in particular, technical and administrative assistance aimed at establishing effective standards relating to the fight against money laundering in line with international standards.
Article 58. Fight Against Drugs
1 The Parties shall cooperate with a view in particular to:
- improving the effectiveness of policies and measures to counter the supply of, and illicit trafficking in, narcotic drugs and psycho-tropic substances and the reduction of the abuse of these products,
- encouraging a joint approach to reducing demand.
2. The Parties shall determine together, in accordance with their respective legislation, the strategies and cooperation methods appropriate for attaining these objectives. Their operations, other than joint operations, shall form the subject of consultations and close coordination.
The relevant governmental and non-governmental sector bodies, in accordance with their own powers, working with the competent bodies of Egypt, the Community and its Member States, may take part in these operations.
3. Cooperation shall take the form of exchanges of information and, where appropriate, joint activities on:
- establishment or extension of social and health institutions and information centres for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts,
- implementation of projects in the areas of prevention, training and epidemiological research,
- establishment of effective standards relating to the prevention of the diversion of precursors and other essential substances used for the illicit production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, in line with international standards.
Article 59. Fight Against Terrorism
In accordance with international conventions and with their respective national legislations, the Parties shall cooperate in this field and focus in particular on:
- exchange of information on means and methods used to counter terrorism,
- exchange of experiences in respect of terrorism prevention,
- joint research and studies in the area of terrorism prevention.
Article 60. Regional Cooperation
Regional cooperation shall focus on:
- development of economic infrastructures,
- scientific and technological research,
- intra-regional trade,
- customs matters,
- cultural matters,
- environmental issues.
Article 61. Consumer Protection
Cooperation in this field should be geared to making consumer protection schemes in the European Community and Egypt compatible and should, as far as possible, involve:
- increasing the compatibility of consumer legislation in order to avoid barriers to trade,
- establishment and development of systems of mutual information on dangerous food and industrial products and interconnecting them (rapid alert systems),
- exchanges of information and experts,
- organising training schemes and supplying technical assistance.
Title VI.
Chapter 1. Dialogue and Cooperation on Social Matters
Article 62.
The Parties reaffirm the importance they attach to the fair treatment of their workers legally residing and employed in the territory of the other Party. The Member States and Egypt, at the request of any of them, agree to initiate talks on reciprocal bilateral agreements related to the working conditions and social security rights of Egyptian and Member State workers legally resident and employed in their respective territory.
Article 63.
1. The Parties shall conduct regular dialogue on social matters which are of interest to them.
2. This dialogue shall be used to find ways to achieve progress in the field of movement of workers and equal treatment and social integration of Egyptian and Community nationals legally residing in the territories of their host countries.
3. The dialogue shall notably cover all issues related to:
(a) migrant communities' living and working conditions;
(b) migration;
(c) illegal migration;
(d) actions to encourage equal treatment between Egyptian and Community nationals, mutual knowledge of cultures and civilizations, the furthering of tolerance and the removal of discrimination.
Article 64.
Dialogue on social matters shall be conducted in accordance with the same procedures as those provided for in Title I of this Agreement.
Article 65.
With a view to consolidating cooperation between the Parties in the social field, projects and programmes shall be carried out in any area of interest to them.
Priority will be given to:
(a) reducing migratory pressures, notably by improving living conditions, creating jobs, and income generating activities and developing training in areas from which emigrants come;
(b) promoting the role of women in economic and social development;
(c) bolstering and developing Egyptian family planning and mother and child protection programmes;
(d) improving the social protection system;
(e) improving the health care system;
(f) improving living conditions in poor areas;
(g) implementing and financing exchange and leisure programmes for mixed groups of Egyptian and European young people residing in the Member States, with a view to promoting mutual knowledge of their respective cultures and fostering tolerance.
Article 66.
Cooperation schemes may be carried out in cooperation with the Member States and the relevant international organisations.
Article 67.
A working group shall be set up by the Association Council by the end of the first year following the entry into force of this Agreement. It shall be responsible for the continuous and regular evaluation of the implementation of Chapters 1 to 3.
Chapter 2. Cooperation for the Prevention and Control of Illegal Immigration and other Consular Issues
Article 68.
The Parties agree to cooperate in order to prevent and control illegal immigration. To this end:
- each of the Member States agrees to readmit any of its nationals illegally present on the territory of Egypt, upon request by the latter and without further formalities once such persons have been positively identified as such,
- Egypt agrees to readmit any of its nationals illegally present on the territory of a Member State, upon request by the latter and without further formalities once such persons have been positively identified as such.
The Member States and Egypt will also provide their nationals with appropriate identity documents for such purposes.
In respect of the Member States of the European Union, the obligations in this Article shall apply only in respect of those persons who are to be considered their nationals for Community purposes.
In respect of Egypt, the obligation in this Article shall apply only in respect of those persons who are considered nationals of Egypt in accordance to the Egyptian legal system and all the relevant laws concerning citizenship.
Article 69.
After the entry into force of the Agreement, the Parties, at the request of any of them, shall negotiate and conclude bilateral agreements with each other, regulating specific obligations for the readmission of their nationals. These agreements shall also cover, if deemed necessary by any of the Parties, arrangements for the readmission of third country nationals. Such agreements will lay down the details about the categories of persons covered by these arrangements as well as the modalities of their readmission.
Adequate financial and technical assistance to implement these agreements will be provided to Egypt.
Article 70.
The Association Council shall examine what other joint efforts can be made to prevent and control illegal immigration as well as deal with other consular issues.
Chapter 3. Cooperation In Cultural Matters, Audiovisual Media and Information
Article 71.
1. The Parties agree to promote cultural cooperation in fields of mutual interest and in a spirit of respect for each other's cultures. They shall establish a sustainable cultural dialogue. This cooperation shall promote in particular:
- conservation and restoration of historic and cultural heritage (such as monuments, sites, artefacts, rare books and manuscripts),
- exchange of art exhibitions, troupes of performing arts, artists, men of letters, intellectuals and cultural events,
- translations,
- training of persons working in the cultural field.
2. Cooperation in the field of audiovisual media shall seek to encourage cooperation in such areas as co-production and training. The Parties shall seek ways to encourage Egyptian participation in Community initiatives in this sector.
3. The Parties agree that existing cultural programmes of the Community and of one or more of the Member States and further activities of interest to both sides can be extended to Egypt.
4. The Parties shall, in addition, work to promote cultural cooperation of a commercial nature, particularly through joint projects (production, investment and marketing), training and exchange of information.
5. The Parties shall, in identifying cooperation projects, programmes and joint activities, give special attention to young people, self-expression, heritage conservation issues, the dissemination of culture, and communication skills using written and audiovisual media.
6. Cooperation shall be implemented in particular through:
- a regular dialogue between the Parties,
- regular exchange of information and ideas in every sector of cooperation including meetings of officials and experts,
- transfer of advice, expertise and training,
- implementation of joint actions such as seminars and workshops,
- technical, administrative and regulatory assistance,
- dissemination of information on cooperation initiatives.
Title VII. FINANCIAL COOPERATION
Article 72.
In order to achieve the objectives of this Agreement, a financial cooperation package shall be made available to Egypt in accordance with the appropriate procedures and the financial resources required.
Financial cooperation shall focus on:
- promoting reforms designed to modernise the economy,
- upgrading economic infrastructure,
- promoting private investment and job-creating activities,
- responding to the economic repercussions for Egypt of the gradual introduction of a free trade area, notably by upgrading and restructuring industry and enhancing Egypt's export capacity,
- accompanying measures for policies implemented in the social sector,
- promoting Egypt's capacity and capabilities in the field of the protection of intellectual property rights,
- where appropriate, supplementary measures for the implementation of bilateral agreements to prevent and control illegal immigration,
- accompanying measures for the establishment and implementation of competition legislation.
Article 73.
In order to ensure that a coordinated approach is adopted to any exceptional macro-economic and financial problems that might arise as a result of the implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall use the regular economic dialogue provided for in Title V to give particular attention to monitoring trade and financial trends in relations between the Community and Egypt.
Title VIII. INSTITUTIONAL, GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 74.
An Association Council is hereby established which shall meet at ministerial level once a year and when circumstances require, at the initiative of its President and in accordance with the conditions laid down in its rules of procedure.
It shall examine any major issues arising within the framework of this Agreement and any other bilateral or international issues of mutual interest.
Article 75.
1. The Association Council shall consist of the members of the Council of the European Union and of the Commission of the European Communities, on the one hand, and members of the Government of Egypt, on the other.
2. Members of the Association Council may arrange to be represented in accordance with the provisions laid down in its rules of procedure.
3. The Association Council shall establish its rules of procedure.
4. The Association Council shall be presided in turn by a member of the Council of the European Union and a member of the Government of Egypt, in accordance with the provisions laid down in its rules of procedure.
Article 76.
The Association Council shall, for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the Agreement, have the power to take decisions in the cases provided for therein.
The decisions taken shall be binding on the Parties, which shall take the measures necessary to implement them. The Association Council may also make appropriate recommendations.
The Association Council shall draw up its decisions and recommendations by agreement between the two Parties.
Article 77.
1. Subject to the powers of the Association Council, an Association Committee is hereby established which shall be responsible for the implementation of the Agreement.