Cairo - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union said that on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), a major step was achieved in environmental cooperation between the European Union and Egypt, as the Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginius Sinkevicius, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, signed a joint declaration to establish a partnership. Sustainable water, which represents a pivotal moment in long-term environmental cooperation between the European Union and Egypt.
The Union published a press release from the European Union mission office in Cairo, which included the most important points of the announcement:
1. Establish annual high-level meetings: a forum for strategic discussions and decision-making.
2. Forming a joint working group: enhancing cooperation in a structured approach.
3. The upcoming Corporate Water Forum: A platform for engagement and business collaboration to achieve water security.

  Partnership objectives:
1. Enhancing water security in Egypt through sustainable management of its scarce water resources.
2. Promoting regular dialogues and policy exchanges and enhancing technological, scientific and administrative capacities in the two regions.
3. Setting a precedent for similar partnerships across Africa with Egypt setting an example through the 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy.

Commissioner Sienkevicius's letter stated:
“Water stress is increasing globally. Strengthening our water resilience is key to anticipating and resolving impending crises in health, food and energy. The EU-Egypt water partnership reflects our commitment to collaboratively addressing this global challenge.”
1. This Joint Declaration is a continuation of the strong environmental cooperation between the EU and Egypt and is consistent with the Team Europe initiative on Water and Food Security.
2. The UN Water Conference in March emphasized the need for an integrated approach to address climate change and the interconnected crises in water, energy, food and ecosystems.
3. In 2024, the European Commission will introduce a water resilience initiative, as announced by President Ursula von der Leyen, to build a common understanding of global water stress challenges and develop a strategy for a water resilient future.