Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the European Union, on Wednesday congratulated the Egyptian people on the completion of the second round voting in the presidential election, describing it as an important step in the transitional phase to a democratically elected president.

Ashton stressed in a statement the importance of establishing democratic institutions and working on meeting the aspirations of the Egyptian people for dignity, democracy and freedom.

She is, however, concerned about the latest institutional developments surrounding the last round of voting, in particular the dissolution of Parliament and the Supreme Council of the Armed Force's supplement to the Constitutional Declaration of 17 June, which she says "seriously constrains the powers of the President, and creates uncertainties about the drafting of a new constitution."

She also renewed the commitment of the European Union to work with the democratically elected authorities in Egypt.