We welcome the news of the Presidential pardon granted on 19 July to human rights researcher Patrick George Zaki and human rights lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer.

The European Union and its Member States have been closely engaged in both cases since Mr Zaki and Mr El-Baqer were detained. Their pardon is therefore a positive development for EU-Egypt relations. The EU will continue to work with Egypt to promote good governance and human rights, including through our bilateral cooperation.