Joint NGO Letter on the EU’s Macro-Financial Assistance to Egypt and Human Rights: What’s the Deal?

A host of human rights organizations, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), have raised serious concerns about the European Union’s financial aid to Egypt. They have expressed these concerns through an open letter to the European Commission and the EU member states.

This coalition of rights groups insists that the EU ensures Egypt respects human rights and legal principles as part of any financial assistance agreement.

Egyptian Human Rights Situation

Since the ousting of Mohamed Morsi in 2013, the political climate in Egypt has been highly repressive.

The current regime systematically suppresses peaceful dissent, stifles independent media, and pressures civil society organizations.

Political opposition faces severe crackdowns, and repressive laws restrict freedoms while tens of thousands of critics are incarcerated.

The judicial system lacks independence, which has exacerbated the human rights crisis.

Issues in Egypt	Description
Political Repression	Severe crackdowns on dissent and opposition.
Media Suppression	Independent media nearly wiped out.
Repressive Legislation	Laws restricting freedoms and silencing critics.
Judiciary Independence	Significant lack of independence in the judicial system.
Human Rights Violations	Widespread human rights abuses including mass detentions and suppression of peaceful protests.

The lack of accountability within the Egyptian government has worsened the situation.

Without proper civic, judicial, or parliamentary oversight, there is little to no accountability for the government’s actions.

This has led to the erosion of social and economic rights, particularly for those hit hardest by Egypt’s recurring economic crises.

Financial Assistance and Reforms

Starting from February 2024, Egypt has received or been pledged around $57 billion in grants and loans from various donors including the UAE, IMF, World Bank, UK, and the EU.

These financial aids come with the expectation of reforms that improve human rights, transparency, and accountability.

The organizations underscore that economic and fiscal measures implemented as part of financial assistance should not exacerbate economic and social right violations.

The continued rise in poverty rates since Egypt adopted the first IMF program in 2016 and inadequate spending on social protections, health, and education are particular areas of concern.

They argue that any agreed-upon economic reforms should be in line with the obligations related to economic and social rights, particularly in labor rights, environmental justice, and corporate accountability.

They assert that structural reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law, ensuring fair trials, and opening civic spaces are crucial.

This includes abiding by rights related to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and media freedom, as well as releasing all those arbitrarily detained.

Such reforms would not only align with Egypt’s constitutional and international obligations but also address some root causes of Egypt’s economic instability.

EU Regulations and Human Rights Obligations

EU regulations stipulate that recipients of macro-financial assistance must adhere to human rights standards and effective democratic mechanisms, such as a multi-party parliamentary system and the rule of law.

The European Council requires Egypt to make concrete and credible steps towards these democratic principles. However, the specifics of these steps remain undefined in the Commission’s proposal.

Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs)

As the EU and Egypt negotiate Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) regulating fund disbursement to Egypt until 2027, the signatory organizations urge the EU to ensure:

Clear Human Rights Roadmap: MoUs should include a clear roadmap for structural reforms with specific, time-bound indicators and targets for meeting human rights obligations.
Release of Detainees: The immediate and unconditional release of all detained for peaceful human rights exercises.
Opening of Civic Spaces: Ensure respect for the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, especially before, during, and after the 2025 parliamentary elections.

They argue that fulfilling these conditions will lead to tangible improvements in human rights and the rule of law in Egypt. Without these benchmarks, financial aid could inadvertently support further abuses and repression.

Signatories of this appeal include major human rights organizations such as: