Local devlopment min., EU amb. discuss files related to solid wastes, water rationalization

CAIRO, Dec 5 (MENA) - Local Development Minister Mahmoud Sharawi had talks on Wednesday with Ambassador of the European Union in Cairo Ivan Surkos a number of important files related to solid waste management, rationalization of water use and decentralization.

During his meeting with amb. Surkos and his accompanying delegation, Sharawi reviewed the most important outcome of Egypt's participation in the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) meetings in Morocco's Marrakesh city from November 20 to 24 in light of Egypt's presidency of the African Union in 2019.

As for decentralization, Egypt is working on applying decentralization and the transfer of authority from central to local government with the view to achieving justice, equal distribution of national projects in all sectors and promoting the comparative advantages of the governorates to secure jobs for youth, Sharawi said.

The government is attaching importance to development projects in New Port Said and North Sinai, he added.

For his part, Surkos asserted the EU's support for Egypt in applying decentralization and implementing development projects.

The EU paid attention to the file of water and is working with Egypt in this regard, he added.

He cited the "EU4Water in Egypt" program, which is to be launched with an indicative budget of EUR 120 million within the upcoming three years; this is to support the water sector in Egypt under the state's SDS 2030.

Cooperation between the EU and Egypt in the water sector includes programs covering 12 Egyptian governorates. These programs will help improve the lives of 12.5 million Egyptians; about one-third of the population of these governorates, targeting the less fortunate and most needy.

In March, the EU has launched EU WATER STARS program with the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation with a total budget that amounts to EUR 5 million as a grant aiming to raise the technical competencies in the water field, where it will continue for 30 months.

This program will help the ministry achieve the required reforms to implement the water security objectives according to the state's Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 and the National Water Resources Plan (NWRP) 2037.