Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received on Monday Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
The meeting was held in the presence of Sameh Shoukry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a number of senior officials of the European Commission. It came at the end of Borrell’s two-day visit to Egypt from 17 to 19 June.
During the meeting, Al-Sisi and Borrell dealt with a review of the various aspects of the institutional relationship between Egypt and the European Union, where the keenness to continue enhancing cooperation and mutual dialogue to strengthen the friendly relations between the two sides was confirmed, in light of common interests and challenges, especially with regard to combating illegal immigration and terrorism.
The meeting also touched on the continuous coordination on many international and regional issues, especially the developments of the crisis in Sudan, where the European official praised the Egyptian efforts in this regard, whether with regard to hosting Sudanese refugees, or efforts to calm and cease-fire.
Moreover, the meeting also dealt with the developments of the Palestinian Cause in light of the recent relevant developments, where it was agreed to intensify efforts in pursuit of peace and reaching a settlement of the Palestinian Cause in accordance with international constants and references, in a way that restores the Palestinian people their legitimate rights, and in a way that supports security and development for all peoples of the region.
Ahmed Fahmy, the spokesperson for the presidency, said that the latest developments regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis were also discussed. In this regard, Al-Sisi stressed the importance of intensifying international action to avoid and contain the economic effects of the crisis on the global economy and developing countries in particular, in light of the repercussions that affected the markets. Food, energy and finance at the global level
Al-Sisi also emphasized the importance of the EU in the framework of Egypt’s foreign policy, both in terms of being Egypt’s first trading partner, and in light of the complex and extended ties that unite the two sides, and the common challenges they face on both sides of the Mediterranean.
Borrell praised the distinguished relations between Egypt and the European Union, noting the political weight that Egypt enjoys regionally and internationally, and its role as an axis of security and stability in the region that is going through a period of turmoil, which makes Egypt an important and appreciated strategic partner for the European Union and its member states, according to the presidency’s statement.
