EU is deeply disturbed by Ethiopia’s unilateral actions on GERD: Austrian FM

CAIRO – 13 July 2021: Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said that The European Union is deeply disturbed by the unilateral actions taken by Ethiopia on The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue.

He added in statements to Sada al Balad news channel, Tuesday that he is following closely on all of the GERD updates with his Egyption counterpart Sameh Shoukry. He noted that they discussed the GERD issue on details during a working breakfast in Brussels on Monday.

He also noted that he talked with the Ethiopian officials and explained that ‘water disputes are existential disputes’ that may lead to unthinkable results.

Schallenberg added that he suggested on the Ethiopians sending a committee of experts to study how Europe figured to solve the Danube River issue which considers to be the second-longest river in Europe, and that this may help them solving the GERD issue with Egypt and Sudan.

He affirmed that ‘no country owns the Nile River, or can control the flow of its waters’.

On July 12, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed, Monday several issues of mutual concern with his European Union counterparts during a working breakfast in Brussels.

According to spokesperson Ahmed Hafez, the minsters tackled several national and international issues including illegal immigration and human rights.

The Minsters affirmed during the gathering the strategic relations between Egypt and the EU, which considers to be Cairo’s first trade and investment partner. The discussed the importance of increasing the European investment in Egypt.

The talks also tackled The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the Middle East peace process and the situation in Libya.

The EU officials expressed appreciation to Egypt’s vital role in the MENA region on all levels to achieve regional security and stability.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry headed Sunday to Brussels to deliver a message from President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to the president of the European Union Council.

On July 8, Minister Shokry delivered a speech explaining Egypt's vision and stance on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session held on the issue.