Following former President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, decision to step down, the European Union in a common statement from President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, welcomed his decision and renewed EU compromise towards the people of Egypt. In a first reaction to this historic event, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, stated that this is only a beginning of a long road to lasting change: a road of political transition in Egypt in full.

On 11 February 2011, and just one day after President's Mubarak public speech where he announced he was not stepping down from government, his Vice-president, Omar Suleiman, was the appointed to make the public announcement of Mubarak's resignation. Political reactions were immediate and, among them, the European Union through its main institutions welcomed the decision made by President Mubarak.

By standing down, former President Mubarak has listened to the voices of the Egyptian people and has opened the way to faster and deeper reforms, and an orderly transition to democracy. The European Union has, one again, renewed its compromise to the Egyptian people, offering all its support for a democratic transition. Has highlighted by High Representative Ashton in a press conference on 11 February, the EU is ready to provide its long-standing experience in building democracies.

As highlighted in the common statement, it is now important that the dialogue is accelerated leading to a broad-based civilian government which will respect the aspirations of, and deliver stability for, the Egyptian people. Early February, the European Union already called for free and fair elections in Egypt and now, with a new open phase, this objective must be ensured. An orderly and irreversible transition towards democracy and free and fair elections is the shared objective of both the EU and the Egyptian people. Furthermore, the preservation of regional peace and stability should remain our shared priority.

The future of Egypt, does the joint statement stress, rightly remains in the hands of the Egyptian people. The European Union calls on Army to continue to act responsibly and to ensure that the democratic change takes place in a peaceful manner.

Jerzy Buzek: A democratic Egypt is in the interest first and foremost of its citizens, the Egyptians

President Buzek stressed that the Egyptian people want the old regime to be dismantled, and it is Europe's responsibility to measure the next steps in the fulfilment of the people's demand by repealing the emergency laws and by ending all intimidation of journalists, human rights defenders or political dissidents. A new government including all democratic forces is crucial for the transition.

It is of utmost importance, Buzek said, “to carefully cherish and protect the flowers of freedom obtained”. Although for the European Union a democratic Egypt is as important as a stable Egypt, it President Buzek highlighted that “a democratic Egypt is in the interest first and foremost of its citizens - of the Egyptians”.