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<p>The EU has made considerable efforts to support political transition in Egypt since
2011, through its European Neighbourhood Policy and “Support for Partnership, Reforms
and Inclusive Growth” (SPRING) funding.</p><p>In their report on the 2014 European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) package, ‘Neighbourhood at a Crossroads: Taking Stock of
a Year of Challenges' issued in March 2014, the European External Access Service and
Commission found that no significant progress had been made towards the current ENP
action plan in 2013 and most of the recommendations made in last year's report were
still relevant. It found that Egypt needed to make improvements in key areas, such
as to ensure the constitution is implemented with full respect for human rights, create
conditions for an active civil society, and ensure the protection of women's rights
and gender equality. Since this report the EU also provided an Election Observation
Mission to monitor Presidential elections in May 2014.<br> <br>An initial amount of
€90 million was allocated in 2011-12 to Egypt from the EU's SPRING funds, part of
the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). Subsequent political
and human rights developments meant that no further funding from this mechanism was
allocated to Egypt at that time.</p>
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