EU leaders demand Egypt transition 'now'

BRUSSELS: Europe's 27 leaders demanded the transition to democracy in Egypt start "now" in a joint statement on Friday that also condemned violence in the country "in the strongest terms".

Meeting at a one-day summit, the leaders "called on the Egyptian authorities to meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people with political reform not repression."

They called for restraint on all sides and no further violence as the country begins an "orderly transition" to a broad-based government.

"The European Council underlined that this transition process must start now," added the statement, the European Union's toughest response yet to the turmoil in Egypt.

A diplomatic source who asked not to be identified told AFP there had been a "lively" debate between the leaders over the wording of the text.

Under attack from European parliamentarians, rights groups and analysts for a slow and muted response to turmoil in the Mediterranean, the statement also sent a veiled threat of suspending EU aid.

Though well below US assistance, EU aid amounts to almost half a billion euros ($610 billion) in the current three-year period.

"The basis for the EU's relationship with Egypt must be the principles set out in the association agreement and the commitments made," the statement said.

The leaders said Europe was following "with utmost concern the deteriorating situation in Egypt" and "condemned in the strongest terms the violence and all those who use and encourage violence."

Leaders also described attacks on the media as "unacceptable".

Touching also on the uprising in Tunisia, the 27 EU leaders "saluted the peaceful and dignified expression by the Tunisian and Egyptian people of their legitimate, democratic, economic and social aspirations."

These were "in accord with the values the European Union promotes for itself and throughout the world."

Responding also to criticism that Europe had backed authoritarian regimes in the Middle East as a bulwark against Islamist extremists, the leaders pledged to turn a page in its foreign policy thinking.

EU leaders were "committed to a new partnership involving more effective support in the future to those countries which are pursuing political and economic reforms."