Egypt is a key partner for the EU and its most important neighbor in the Southern Mediterranean, said the head of the European Union (EU) delegation to Egypt, Ivan Surkoš, at the EU’s annual iftar event on Wednesday.
“The richness of cooperation is evident in the figure of the total EU aid commitments to Egypt, which amounts to over €.3bn in grants. The total of combined ongoing aid commitments (grant, loans, etc) of EU member states, institutions, and the European financing institutions (EFIs) is €11bn,” Surkoš added.
He said that the Association Council between the EU and Egypt was held in July 2017 when both parties discussed the most important issues in all cooperation aspects, including political, security, human rights, migration, sustainable development, research and innovation, and others.
Both sides adopted their partnership priorities for the years 2017-2020, with the aim of contributing to the wellbeing, improved living conditions, and stability of Egypt and the EU, noted Surkoš.
“Key elements to achieve these goals are inclusive sustainable development underpinned by inclusive growth and innovation, and effective and participatory governance based on the rule of law and the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” said Surkoš.
The EU will hold an EU-Egypt Water Cooperation Day during the first ever Cairo Water Week (CWW) in October this year, Surkoš said, highlighting the recent visit of EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete to Egypt in April with the signing of a MoU on strategic cooperation between the EU and Egypt on energy, and also the high-level meetings he held, including with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Daily News Egypt
31/05/2018
