Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The tenth meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council will be held in Brussels next Tuesday, January 23, 2024. This meeting marks the twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Association Agreement in 2004. This time the meeting is chaired by High Representative Josep Borrell. The Egyptian side is headed by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and begins at 10:30. According to a European statement issued on Friday in Brussels, it also said: “The European Union attaches great importance to its relationship with Egypt as a major partner and regional player, and emphasizes the strategic nature of the partnership.”
It is expected that the two parties will discuss during the Association Council their cooperation within the framework of the partnership priorities between Egypt and the European Union 2021-2027, which were agreed upon in the Association Council between the European Union and Egypt on June 19, 2022.
The Association Council will focus on bilateral relations, including cooperation to promote stability in Egypt and in the European Union - including human rights, security, counter-terrorism and migration - as well as cooperation on economic and social issues - ranging from investments to the environment and migration. energy. The Association Council will also address foreign policy matters, including a number of regional crises.
The discussions will follow the commitment of the last meeting of the Association Council to further strengthen democracy, fundamental freedoms and human rights, address common challenges, promote common interests, and ensure long-term stability and sustainable development for both partners.
The EU and Egypt will discuss ongoing initiatives that aim, within the framework of the Association Agreement and Partnership Priorities, to unleash the full potential of EU-Egypt relations, accompany Egypt’s social and economic development, and help mitigate the impact of the current crises in the region on Egypt and to achieve stability. and shared security.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the two parties are also expected to sign a framework agreement regarding Egypt’s participation in European Union programs.