Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty praised the noticeable progress in relations between Egypt and the European Union, particularly following the Egypt-EU summit held last October.

According to State Information Service Egypt, he said the summit gave strong momentum to cooperation, especially in implementing the six pillars of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. Abdelatty made the remarks during a phone call on Thursday with European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka ‚¬¦ uica as part of ongoing coordination and consultations aimed at strengthening relations between Egypt and the EU.

The Foreign Minister affirmed the importance of building on the summit's outcomes and continuing to expand economic, investment, and trade cooperation across various sectors. He also expressed Egypt's hope for the swift disbursement of the second tranche of the EU's financial support package to Egypt.

Abdelatty noted that the region's military escalation has had negative economic effects, including rising energy prices, disruptions to international shipping routes and supply chains, and declining revenues from the Suez Canal, all of which affect the Egyptian economy. The two sides also exchanged views on the proposed action plan of the Pact for the Mediterranean.

Abdelatty presented Egypt's vision for the pact and outlined several proposed initiatives and projects, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation among Mediterranean countries to address shared challenges and take advantage of economic, social, and cultural opportunities. He also briefed the EU official on Egypt's position regarding recent regional developments amid the dangerous military escalation in the region.

Abdelatty emphasized the need for coordinated regional and international efforts to reduce tensions and prioritize diplomatic and political solutions. He warned that expanding the conflict could undermine security and stability in the region as well as in EU countries, underscoring the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to contain the situation.