Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry embarked on a working visit to Brussels on Sunday, where he will chair the Egyptian delegation at the 10th meeting of the Egypt-EU Association Council. This crucial gathering coincides with the 20th anniversary of the partnership agreement between the two sides, marking a significant milestone in their multifaceted cooperation.
The Association Council meeting is chaired by Shoukry and Josep Borrell, Vice President of the Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
“This meeting holds special significance,” said Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It coincides with two decades of fruitful partnership, built on the foundation of the Egypt-EU agreement and further strengthened by the 2021-2027 partnership priorities.”
The Association Council serves as the comprehensive framework for implementing the agreement and capitalizing on the ambitious priorities document. Minister Shoukry’s visit will see the signing of a framework agreement enabling Egypt to benefit from expanded EU technical programs in education and scientific research.
The council will also witness the signing of a framework agreement that allows Egypt to benefit from more EU technical programs, especially in the fields of education and scientific research.
Beyond the partnership agenda, Shoukry’s visit includes a working breakfast with EU Foreign Ministers, to delve into avenues for bolstering bilateral cooperation. Discussions will focus on joint programs, regional crises like the Gaza Strip, Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the crucial issue of Red Sea security.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister is also scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with a number of EU foreign ministers and European Commissioners for Neighborhood, Economic, Energy, Migration, Climate, Humanitarian and Crisis Management, among others.
Minister Shoukry will also take part in a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States with the High Representative for the Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union and a number of Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Union to consult on the developments of the crisis in Gaza and the future of the Palestinian issue, in addition to the efforts to contain the escalation in the Middle East region.
