Egyptian president scheduled to visit Brussels to attend 6th EU-AU Summit Thursday

CAIRO – 14 February 2022: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is scheduled to visit Brussels on Thursday, 17 February to attend the sixth European Union - African Union summit in Brussels on 17 and 18 February 2022.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will receive Sisi upon arrival in Brussels, according to the agenda of the E uropean Union Council.

The summit is set to tackle potential investment benefits between the two continents, besides issues of global concern like climate change and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the agenda.

EU and AU leaders and their member states are scheduled to attend the summit, which seeks to provide a “unique opportunity to lay the foundations for a renewed and deeper AU-EU partnership,” the European Council said.

The summit seeks to ensure that the AU-EU partnership is based on mutual trust and understanding of common interests, the European Council added.

Leaders are expected to discuss means of enhancing African-European stability and security and the launch of an “ambitious Africa-Europe Investment Package” amid climate change, the pandemic, and other challenges.

The summit will discuss key topics, including vaccine production, sustainable development, education, vocational training, migration, supporting the private sector, security and governance. This is in addition to climate change and energy transition.

The AU and EU leaders and member states are expected to adopt a joint declaration on a joint vision for 2030, according to the European Council.

Boosting EU’s cooperation with Egypt

Late in January, von der Leyen made a phone call with Sisi, where she praised the firm and special relations between Egypt and the European Union, affirming that the EU is keen to continue boosting cooperation with Egypt at all levels.

She hailed Sisi’s vision to achieve sustainable development in Egypt and also lauded the country’s efforts to fight terrorism and the successful Egyptian experience in facing illegal immigration, according to Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi.

The phone call discussed a number of issues and developments of the situation in the region, Radi said.

Von der Leyen affirmed the European side’s keenness to coordinate with Sisi on a number of important regional and international issues as well as topics related to Egypt’s hosting of the COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2022.

Sisi and Von der Leyen shared similar views regarding the necessity to continue consultation and intensify cooperation between the two sides on the direct bilateral level and at international events, Radi said.

This comes with the aim of working to reach political settlements to the different crises in the region, preserve security and peace in the Middle East, Africa, and East Mediterranean to restore stability in the region and secure a better future for people, they agreed.

During the phone call, Sisi and Von der Leyen discussed enhancing bilateral relations at the bilateral level, working on boosting the relations of friendship, and continuing joint consultation between Egypt and the EU in light of the several and strong ties between them.

In this regard, Sisi affirmed keenness to enhance cooperation and dialogue between Egypt and the EU in light of the joint interests and challenges, Radi added.