By Manal Abdel Fattah
Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met this Monday morning, in Brussels, with the foreign ministers of European Union countries, in the presence of Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at a working breakfast organized on the sidelines of the meetings of the tenth session of the Egyptian/European Association Council, this came in statements made by Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The official spokesman revealed that the meeting comes within the framework of ongoing consultation between Egypt and the institutions of the European Union and its countries on the overall relations that bring together the two sides, and the joint endeavors to enhance bilateral cooperation between Egypt and the European Union and its countries, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs began his speech by emphasizing the depth and specificity of Egyptian/European relations, Which includes multiple political, economic, cultural and security aspects.
Mr. Sameh Shoukry praised the momentum witnessed by Egyptian-European relations, which was reflected in the pace of high-level visits and meetings from both sides, noting his aspiration for the continuation of in-depth and constructive dialogue between the two sides during the Participation Council meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 23.
Ambassador Abu Zeid stated that Minister Shukri provided an extensive explanation of the economic conditions in Egypt against the backdrop of the economic reform program, and the important economic measures that have been taken to develop the performance of the Egyptian economy and respond to the needs of citizens, explaining the challenges resulting from the turbulent economic and security situation regionally and internationally and its impact on the performance of a number of Of the sectors. Shukry stressed the importance of economic, trade and investment cooperation between Egypt and the European Union as an essential component for strengthening the strategic partnership between the two sides, and in line with the political momentum achieved at the present time. He expressed his aspiration towards investment cooperation that enhances the competitiveness of the two sides on the international arena and represents a qualitative shift in these close relations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the European side to pump more European investments into Egypt to benefit from the comprehensive modernization process that the country is witnessing, which aims to transform it into a regional center for manufacturing, trade, energy, services and supply chains. He expressed his aspiration for effective and large participation by European companies in the investment conference to be organized in Egypt during the current year.
The official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that the discussions between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his European counterparts covered in depth the developments taking place in various economic sectors in Egypt, the state’s strategy to enhance the role of the private sector, interest in the renewable energy sector, electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and a number of countries, including Greece, and production and export projects. Green hydrogen, in addition to the existing cooperation with the European Union in the field of combating illegal immigration, to which Minister Shukry was keen to review the comprehensive Egyptian approach towards it and the opportunities and areas of cooperation with the European Union in this field, in addition to the efforts to combat terrorism that witness close cooperation between Egypt and the European Union. Within the framework of their joint chairmanship of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid pointed out the keenness of European officials in their interventions to confirm the importance that the European Union and its countries attach to strengthening its partnership with Egypt and advancing all paths of bilateral cooperation in various fields, and their support for the proposal to raise relations between Egypt and the European Union to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership, which This would greatly open the way for developing relations between the two sides in various fields. European officials also stressed the regional and pivotal role played by Egypt to achieve security, peace and stability in the region, and the fact that Egypt is a strategic partner of the European Union that can be relied upon and trusted in facing regional and international challenges, with the European side emphasizing that the stability and security of the European continent is linked to the security and stability of Egypt. And the region.
In this context, European officials were keen to praise the balanced Egyptian positions towards dealing with Middle East crises and ways to solve them, stressing the importance of raising the level of relations with Egypt in a way that is consistent with the magnitude of the existing international and regional challenges.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid concluded his statements, referring to the extensive and frank dialogue that was discussed at the working breakfast on a number of regional issues of common interest between the Egyptian and European sides, most notably the war in Gaza, the situation in Sudan and Libya, and the security of the Red Sea, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed the various elements of the situation. Egyptian towards these issues.
