Egyptian president meets with chair of EU Council discussing African, Middle Eastern Affairs

CAIRO – 18 May 2021: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met Tuesday in Paris with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who is also chairing the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2021.

The president lauded the care given by the EU to African affairs under the leadership of Portugal, and valued the close coordination between both countries over regional and international matters of mutual interest. In that context, President Sisi asserted the necessity of continuous and periodic consultation between Egypt and Portugal.

On his side, the Portuguese prime minister hailed his country's ties and cooperation with Egypt expressing Portugal's keenness on reinforcing relations with Egypt in various fields and supporting its endeavors to achieve comprehensive development.

Further, Costa valued the efforts deployed by Egypt to inhibit illegal migration through its coasts as well as hosting millions of refugees without asking for any support from the international community, saying that is very appreciated by Europe.

It is noted that Egypt adopts an integration policy whereas refugees are not put in camps; rather, they live among citizens and have the freedom to move across the country. Egypt houses five million refugees. The breakdown is 4.5 million Africans, and 500,000 Syrians.

Both chiefs of state also conferred over bilateral cooperation in the sectors of tourism and trade.