Egyptian FM discusses with EU commissioners Middle East conflicts, illegal migration

CAIRO – 22 January 2024: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry held a series of meetings with a number of EU commissioners in Brussels on the sidelines of the 10th meeting of the Association Council of the European Union and Egypt.

Minister Shokry discussed with European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic the humanitarian and security aspects of the crisis in Gaza, as well as ways to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people and increase the amount of aid delivered to the Strip.

The meeting also tackled the current tensions in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Iraq, Syria, and the Red Sea and that are intertwined with the Gaza War. The two officials also discussed the armed conflict in Sudan so as Minister Shokry expressed hope that EU would help on the humanitarian level.    

Minister Shokry presented to Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Ylva Johansson the comprehensive approach adopted by Egypt on combating terrorism as it addresses not just the security aspects but also the developmental ones. In that framework, he expressed keenness on boosting cooperation with the EU in the fields of legal migration, vocational training programmes, and technical education.

The minister shed light on the burden Egypt carries by hosting nine million refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants as they receive subsidized basic services the same as Egyptians. Yet, no single migrant boat has sailed towards Europe from Egypt since 2016.

In a related context, Minister Shokry warned of the repercussions of the crises in Sudan, Libya, and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. Further, he discussed migration-related affairs with EU Commissioner for Promoting European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas.

Similarly, the Egyptian minister displayed to EU Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra the efforts deployed by the country on the front of sustainability and green growth, which can fulfill Europe's needs of renewable and new energy such as green hydrogen.

In a similar context, he conferred over the prospective electricity linkage project between Egypt and Greece 'Gregy' with EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, noting that the country aims for a 42-percent contribution by green power in the energy mix.

In that regard, Minister Shokry highlighted that the investment conference Egypt plans on hosting this year would make a good opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Europe in the sector of renewable and new energy projects.

The minister also met with EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Paolo Gentiloni underscoring the salience that major industrial countries, mainly European ones, fulfill their duties pertinent to mitigating the impact of climate change on developing countries.

 

On his side, Commissioner Gentiloni expressed the EU's understanding of the geo-political challenges faced by Egypt as a consequence of the political turbulence in its regional sphere. He also affirmed the EU's commitment to contributing to the economic stability of Egypt as it is part of the security and stability of its member states.