Egypt hopes to foster cooperation with EU in combating terrorism, extremism comprehensively: Sisi tells Michel

CAIRO – 16 February 2022: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi voiced Egypt's aspiration to foster cooperation with the European Union (EU) in combating terrorism and extremism based on an integrated approach.

During a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, in the council’s headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Sisi affirmed that this comprehensive approach should address the main roots of terrorism and extremism, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said.

President Sisi and Michel agreed on intensifying consultations on the Libyan issue and continuing working to support the political settlement in the country.

Michel praised Egypt’s efforts to stop illegal immigration saying Egypt has been an example of these efforts under the wise leadership of President Sisi.

Michel welcomed President Sisi’s first historic visit to Brussels and the headquarters of the EU and praised the special ties that binds the EU with Egypt.

He underscored the European side's interest in strengthening Egypt-EU relations at various levels, praising Egypt as a connection point between the Arab and European worlds.

On Wednesday, Sisi followed up with a number of Belgian companies on cooperation in the field of green hydrogen production for power generation, Radi said.

Sisi held a meeting on Wednesday with the CEOS and officials of DEME Group, the company of Port of Antwerp, and Fluxys in Brussels. The meeting came as Sisi arrived in Belgium on Tuesday to attend the Sixth European Union – African Union Summit set to be held on 17-18 February.

During the meeting with the Belgian consortium, Sisi stressed Egypt’s national strategy to enhance the uses of alternative fuels and orientation towards clean energy, with a focus on the production of green hydrogen in cooperation with foreign partners in accordance with Egypt’s 2030 vision for sustainable development.

The Egyptian president expressed his aspiration in this regard for the engagement of Belgian companies working into the Egyptian market as a long-standing and reliable international partner in order to maximize the benefits to the state through diversifying energy sources, transferring knowledge, training cadres, and encouraging local industry.

Officials of the Belgian companies hailed Egypt’s keenness to attract foreign direct investment in the field of renewable energy generation, especially with the Egyptian government providing many investment incentives to increase green hydrogen production.

The companies also affirmed their keenness to cooperate with Egypt in this regard within the framework of commitment to the global goals of protecting the environment and combating global warming, as well as to help Egypt exploit its diverse natural resources in the best way for the benefit of development uses.

Sisi also received Jean Luc Maurange, the Executive President at Belgian John Cockerill Defense, where he affirmed Egypt’s appreciation of the extended and fruitful cooperation with Belgium on various levels.

The president expressed the aspiration to deepen cooperation between the two friendly countries, especially in light of the distinguished production of John Cockerill Defense in the field of defense industries and its support to the Egypt’s capabilities in this regard.

Maurange, for his part, affirmed John Cockerill Defense’s keenness to cooperate with Egypt, especially in light of the importance of its role in strengthening the foundations of stability and security in the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean and the African continent, in addition to the prominent Egyptian role as part of the international efforts to combat terrorism.