Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Badr Abdelatty praised the momentum in Egypt-European Union (EU) relations following their elevation in March 2024. This announcement came during a joint press conference with European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Å uica at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty welcomed Å uica and her delegation on their first visit, emphasizing the shared commitment to enhance cooperation and coordination for security and stability in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The European Commissioner met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi earlier, discussing cooperation and regional security developments.
The discussions with Å uica addressed the distinguished relations between Egypt and the EU, focusing on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement’s six axes. Abdelatty highlighted the agreement to hold the second summit between the two sides this year, aiming for biennial summit-level meetings.
Abdelatty discussed economic and trade cooperation, encouraging more European investments in Egypt. He outlined government measures to facilitate investment, including setting a ceiling for public government investments and removing bureaucratic obstacles through a one-stop shop policy. The first Egyptian-EU Investment Conference in June, attended by Sisi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, set the stage for further collaboration.
Plans are underway for the second edition of the investment conference, potentially alongside the upcoming Egyptian-European summit. Investment discussions prioritized sectors like energy, food security, and manufacturing, aligning with Egypt’s industry localization ambitions.
Scientific, cultural, and technological cooperation were also on the agenda, with Egypt participating in EU frameworks for research and academic exchanges, notably “Horizon Europe” and “Erasmus+” programs. The talks included illegal immigration issues, with Egypt seeking increased European support due to hosting 9 million guests on its territory without any illegal emigrant boats leaving its coast since September 2016.