FM urges implementing Egypt-EU strategic partnership, checking updates on European financial package

CAIRO - 9 November 2024: Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty has underlined the necessity of implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union agreed upon earlier this year.

He also highlighted the importance of following developments related to the European financial package provided to Egypt.

The minister made the remarks during a meeting with leaders and members of the European department at the ministry and the general secretariat for the coordination of the Egyptian-European participation agreement.

Abdelatty emphasized the importance of supporting bilateral relations with European countries in all fields, especially after raising the relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership level.

 

The foreign minister emphasized the importance of holding periodic political consultations with European countries, enhancing economic and trade cooperation, and encouraging European partners to support the Egyptian economy.

In this regard, he called for intensifying European investments in Egypt in promising areas such as energy, renewable energy, education, technology, transportation, logistics, and scientific cooperation.

The minister underlined the need for encouraging European companies to operate in Egypt, increasing awareness of investment opportunities in various sectors, and enhancing trade exchange between Egypt and European countries.

He urged increasing Egyptian exports' access to Europe and localizing industry in Egypt.

Abdelatty also stressed the importance of intensifying communication with the Egyptian communities in European countries and providing consular services to Egyptian citizens residing in Europe.

He emphasized the ministry's current efforts to develop consular services through digitizing consular transactions.

COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP

On the sidelines of Egypt-EU Summit held in Cairo in March, Egypt and the EU both agreed on elevating their relationship to the level of a strategic and comprehensive partnership based on equity and mutual respect and trust.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed the joint declaration on strategic and comprehensive partnership.

During the summit, von der Leyen highlighted a financial and investment package of 7.4 billion euros ($8.06 billion) to Egypt over the next four years.

According to a summary published by the EU, the funding includes 5 billion euros in concessional loans as well as 1.8 billion euros of investments.

The funding also includes 600 million euros in grants, including 200 million euros that will be provided to Egypt for the management of migration.

“This is a historic moment,” said von der Leyen. “Today we elevate the relationship between the EU and Egypt to strategic and comprehensive partnership.”