Egypt, EU top diplomats discuss efforts to de-escalate Israel-Iran conflict - Foreign Affairs
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty discussed on Thursday in a phone call with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas the escalating tensions in the Middle East and urgent efforts to de-escalate the military standoff between Israel and Iran.
During the call, Abdelatty briefed the EU official on Egypt's diplomatic initiatives aimed at de-escalating the Israel-Iran conflict, securing a ceasefire, and resuming negotiations, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He emphasized that dialogue remains the sole path to a sustainable agreement on Iran's nuclear programme and to avoid a wider regional conflict.
Minister Abdelatty underscored the need for continued European engagement in these de-escalation and negotiation efforts.
Kallas' call with Abdelatty precedes her anticipated nuclear talks with the Iranian foreign minister in Geneva on Friday, alongside the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Britain.
Media reports suggest that Kallas and the E3's meeting with Iran's top diplomat will address the latest developments and urge Iran to return to the negotiation table.
The aerial conflict between Israel and Iran, now in its seventh day, began after Tel Aviv launched an air campaign against Tehran on Friday, claiming that Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.
Furthermore, Abdelatty outlined Egypt's collaborative efforts with Qatar and the US to reinstate a ceasefire in the war-ravaged Gaza and facilitate the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid.
He urged the EU to provide essential humanitarian support to address the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Gaza caused by Israel's starvation policy, the statement added.
FM Abdelatty further stressed the importance of advancing a political resolution for the Palestinian cause, advocating for establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution as the only viable route to regional stability.
Egypt-EU partnership
During a recent call, Abdelatty welcomed the European Parliament's final approval of the second tranche of the EU's financial support package for Egypt, worth 4 billion euros.
This tranche is part of a larger 5 billion euro budget support package that was agreed upon in March 2024 following the Joint Declaration on the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership between Egypt and the EU in Cairo.
The European support package, signed by both parties in 2024, totals approximately 7.4 billion euros and will be disbursed by 2027.
The package comprises 5 billion euros in budget support, 1.8 billion euros in investment guarantees for European and Egyptian companies investing in Egypt, and approximately 600 million euros for training, technical assistance, and capacity building.
Abdelatty expressed appreciation for Kallas and the EU's foreign service's efforts, describing this approval as a testament to the commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and the EU.
He also reiterated Egypt's commitment to implementing this strategic partnership's various pillars.
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