Bruxelles, 1st February 2005-02-01

Emma Bonino, Member of the European Parliament and former member of the European Commission, introduced an urgent written question to the European Commission and Council with regard to the arrest of the lawyer Ayman Nour, Egyptian Member of Parliament and President of the party Egypt Tomorrow (El Ghad), on 29 January 2005, in front of the Egyptian Parliament, immediately after it lifted his parliamentary immunity.

Emma Bonino underlined that Ayman Nour was subject to investigations by the Supreme State Security Office, one of the tribunals established under the emergency law in vigour since 1981.

Within the frame of the Euro-Mediterranean relations, the European Union signed bilateral association agreements with Egypt which entered into force on 1 June 2004, and is based on the respect of principles of democracy and respect of human rights.

In view of the lifting of Ayman Nour's parliamentary immunities which is a clear infringement of the internal regulations of the People's Assembly, Emma Bonino seeks the support of the European institutions and in particular stresses the strict application of Article 2 of the Association Agreement.