President Sisi says hopes to enhance Egypt-EU ties with new European Council chief

CAIRO – 1 December 2024: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has conveyed his congratulations to the new European Council President, Antonio Costa, expressing his keenness to fortify the strong ties between Egypt and the European Union.

In a social media post on Sunday, President Sisi also expressed his aspirations to enhance collaborative efforts between Egypt and the EU, along with intensifying their coordination on matters of regional security, stability, and endeavors to address ongoing conflicts.

Costa, a former prime minister of Portugal, assumed office as the fourth president of the European Council on 1 December, succeeding Charles Michel from Belgium.

On their first day in their new roles, the new European Council President, along with Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, the EU's new Foreign Policy Chief succeeding Josep Borrell, visited Kyiv to demonstrate support for Ukraine.

During the handover ceremony on Friday, Costa remarked that there has been a longing for peace, nearly three years since the Russia-Ukraine war began. He stressed that peace in Ukraine should be just, lasting, and built on international law.

“Peace cannot mean the peace of a graveyard. Peace cannot mean capitulation. Peace must not reward the aggressor,” Costa added.