The European Union hailed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's resignation in Brussels on Friday.

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton issued a joint statement shortly after Mubarak announced his resignation, saying "We welcome the decision made by President Mubarak today."

"By standing down, he 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," said the statement.

The statement said that the EU saluted the courage of the Egyptian people who have pursued their campaign for democratic change peacefully and with dignity.

"It is important now 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," said the statement, "An orderly and irreversible transition towards democracy and free and fair elections is the shared objective of both the EU and the Egyptian people."

EU restated that violence could never be accepted, and respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms was key.

The preservation of regional peace and stability should remain our shared priority, said the EU statement.

"The future of Egypt rightly remains in the hands of the Egyptian people," the statement said, "We call on Army to continue to act responsibly and to ensure that the democratic change takes place in a peaceful manner. The EU stands ready to help with all its instruments."