Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with the foreign ministers of the EU countries on Monday in Brussels, in the presence of Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the tenth session of the Egyptian/European Participation Council.
According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Abouzeid, the meeting was part of the ongoing consultations between Egypt and the EU institutions and countries on the overall relations and joint efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Shoukry highlighted the depth and specificity of Egyptian-European relations, which cover various aspects of political, economic, cultural, and security cooperation. He expressed his hope for an active and significant participation of European companies in the investment conference that Egypt will organize this year.
Shoukry also praised the momentum of Egyptian-European relations, which was reflected in the frequency of high-level visits and meetings. He expressed his aspiration for the continuation of the in-depth and constructive dialogue during the Participation Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Shoukry gave a detailed explanation of the economic conditions in Egypt in light of the economic reform program and the important economic measures taken to improve the performance of the Egyptian economy and meet the needs of the citizens.
He pointed out the challenges posed by the turbulent economic and security situation regionally and internationally and its impact on the performance of some sectors.
Shoukry stressed the importance of economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Egypt and the EU as a key component to strengthen the strategic partnership and align with the political momentum. He expressed his aspiration for investment cooperation that would enhance the competitiveness of both sides in the international arena and represent a qualitative leap for close relations.
The European officials, in their interventions, reaffirmed the importance of the partnership with Egypt and the advancement of bilateral cooperation in various fields. They also supported the proposal to upgrade the relations between Egypt and the EU to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which would open the way for the development of relations in various fields significantly.
Shoukry also stressed the need to adopt firm international positions to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza and end the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. He called on the European side to play an active role in supporting the Egyptian efforts to restore calm and stability in the region.
The European officials praised the regional and pivotal role of Egypt in achieving security, peace, and stability in the region, and affirmed that Egypt is a reliable and trustworthy strategic partner of the EU in facing regional and international challenges.
They also emphasized that the stability and security of the European continent are linked to the security and stability of Egypt and the region.
In this context, the European officials appreciated the balanced Egyptian positions on dealing with the Middle East crises and finding solutions for them. They stressed the importance of upgrading the relations with Egypt in accordance with the scale of the existing international and regional challenges.
The meeting witnessed a thorough and candid dialogue on several regional issues of mutual interest between the Egyptian and European sides, such as the war in Gaza, the situation in Sudan and Libya, and the security of the Red Sea. The Foreign Minister presented the various aspects of the Egyptian position on these issues.
Additionally, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held meetings with several EU officials, the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg and the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria. The meetings focused on the humanitarian and security aspects of the crisis in the Gaza Strip, the joint actions between Egypt and the European Union to ease the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people, and the coordination of efforts to increase the amount of humanitarian aid to the Strip.
Shoukry also stressed the need for influential international parties, such as the EU countries, to adopt firm positions on achieving a comprehensive ceasefire as the only way to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
