EU’s Michel says keen to enhance coordination with Sisi in the wake of Egypt-brokered Gaza ceasefire

CAIRO – 3 June 2021: European Council President Charles Michel expressed the European Union’s appreciation of the successful Egyptian efforts leading to ceasefire and de-escalation in Gaza between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Michel affirmed his keenness to intensify coordination and exchange visions with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in this regard, Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said, as they spoke to each other via phone on Wednesday.

In this regard, Sisi affirmed the necessity to urgently work on the resumption of direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Sisi reviewed with Michel Egypt’s continuous efforts at all levels to solidify the ceasefire between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, in parallel with the coordination with the international community to launch the process to reconstruct Gaza, based on the Egyptian initiative in this regard.

Egyptian President @AlsisiOfficial and I exchanged today on our bilateral partnership and our joint commitment to enhance peace and stability efforts in the region.

EU 🇪🇺 and Egypt 🇪🇬 will work together & with other partners towards lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/oEeMeibZJX

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) June 2, 2021

The phone call discussed a number of issues of mutual concern between Egypt and the European Union as well as the ways to enhance the relations between the two sides and the coordination on regional issues, Radi said.

Michel hailed the European Union’s firm and distinguished relations with Egypt. He expressed aspiration to continue boosting bilateral cooperation at all levels in light of the mutual interests in facing the common challenges.

Sisi also affirmed Egypt’s keenness to foster the relations with the European Union as a strategic partner in all fields and to coordinate with the EU on regional issues and concerns facing the two sides.

Sisi affirmed aspiration to expand cooperation with the European Union to launch a real partnership relation in the various military, political and economic fields.

Sisi and Michel discussed the developments in Libya. They agreed on the importance of continuing bilateral coordination in this regard.

This aims to support the ongoing transitional period in Libya until the election entitlement is reached in December, the spokesman said, adding that this will help restore the Libyan state’s national institutions and ensure the exit of foreign armed militias and mercenaries from the Libyan territories.

The phone call also tackled the cooperation horizons between the European Union and Egypt in the development fields in Africa.

Sisi and Michel focused on the importance of ensuring the continuous European support to the African countries in facing the repercussions of the coronavirus spread and also the need to encourage large European companies to establish further investment projects in the continent.