President Mohamed Morsy received Catherine Ashton, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, along with her delegation at the presidential palace in Heliopolis on Thursday.
Ashton arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for a two-day visit.
Morsy and Ashton discussed economic cooperation between Egypt and Europe as well as potential opportunities for the EU to assist Egypt during the coming year, amongst other regional and international issues.
Ashton said in a press conference after the meeting that the EU hopes to see a swift resolution to the issue of the Parliament dissolution, as well as a new government and constitution.
The EU does not seek to interfere in Egypt’s domestic affairs, she said, but rather to raise the value of freedom and democracy.
The election of a president is a step on the path to democracy, she added.
Ashton said that the EU hopes Egyptians decide on a democratic model that suits them and builds institutions that ensure the preservation of democracy and liberty.
President Morsy stressed the importance of retrieving assets funneled abroad by the regime of Hosni Mubarak, Ashton said, and she assured him that the EU would work with the Egyptian government to recover stolen funds.
Ashton added that she and Morsy discussed the situation in Syria and the Palestinian people.
Ashton also met with a number of female activists and reported that the EU has allocated US$7 million to support women around the world, particularly after the important role they played in the Arab Spring.
Edited translation from MENA
