European Union Special Representative to Sudan Rosalind Marsden underlined in interview with Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies that Sudan is a priority for the EU due to its geographic location and the network of relations it enjoys with its neighbours.

Marsden said in the interview conducted by Hani Raslan, head of the Sudan and Nile Basin Countries unit of the centre, that a great many European countries were supporters of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which officially ended the Sudanese civil war, and thus became effective actors in Sudan whether concerning the peace agreement and its implementation with South Sudan or the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

The EU is now supporting talks between Sudan and South Sudan in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, said Marsden, adding that technical, financial and political backing is being provided by the EU for political dialogue, which is of paramount importance now in order to resolve outstanding issues regarding Abyei, the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

She also noted the EU's great interest in humanitarian issues, human rights, democracy, justice and the rule of law, saying that the EU gives its support to civil society organisations to help achieve such goals while assisting development in both countries and not only South Sudan.

After Marsden explained her views and analysis of the circumstances in Sudan and South Sudan, including the oil crisis and each party's motives and methods of resolving the crisis, she mentioned that the coming months are delicate in Sudan due to clashes erupting and the economic gap between north and south. All parties must be aware of this, she said.

The EU isn't concerned with who rules Sudan as much as it is concerned with stability and striving to find a more complete policy to include more freedoms, civil rights and participation, said Marsden, adding that clear messages have been delivered to both the Sudanese and South Sudanese governments.