Egypt FM meets German, French counterparts on EU-AU Ministerial Meeting sidelines - Foreign Affairs

Al-Ahram Weekly

21-05-2025

Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty delivered Egypt's address on Wednesday during the third European Union-African Union Ministerial Meeting in Brussels and held sideline meetings with Germany's Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.
In his speech, Minister Abdelatty said the ministerial meeting is taking place amid unprecedented regional and global challenges.
He underscored the need to deepen the EU-AU partnership to resolve conflicts, combat terrorism, address forced migration, and ensure maritime and navigational security.
He also expressed appreciation for the EU's continued support for African institutions in confronting the continent's threats and challenges.
Moreover, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's adoption of a comprehensive approach to sustaining peace by supporting the role of the nation-state and its institutions.
He said building state capacity requires collective efforts to address challenges and achieve sustainable peace.
This includes strengthening the AU and regional organizations in early warning, conflict prevention, and mediation.
Furthermore, Minister Abdelatty highlighted Egypt's role as the AU's champion for post-conflict reconstruction and development.
He underscored Egypt's collaboration with the AU Commission to review related policies and establish the African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) in Cairo.
Abdelatty urged the EU to support the AU Commission in these efforts.
Growing momentum in Egypt-France strategic relations
In the meeting with his French counterpart, Abdelatty expressed Egypt's welcome of the joint statement issued by the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada concerning the Gaza Strip and the West Bank situation.
The statement called for ending the war on the strip and allowing the immediate entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Minister Abdelatty further expressed his aspiration for France and European countries to move forward with the recognition of the Palestinian State, describing this as a fundamental pillar for achieving peace in the Middle East.
He also stressed the growing momentum in strategic relations between Egypt and France. Following President Emmanuel Macron's historic visit to Egypt in April, bilateral ties were elevated to a strategic partnership.
Additionally, Abdelatty affirmed Egypt's commitment to advancing cooperation across various fields, stressing the importance of French private sector engagement in Egypt's investment opportunities and markets to boost economic and trade relations.
The minister also thanked France for supporting Egypt within EU institutions, particularly regarding the European financial package. The European Parliament approved in April a 4 billion euro second tranche for Egypt, part of a larger 7.4 billion euro macro-financial assistance (MFA) package.
He also highlighted the economic impact of regional tensions on maritime security and Suez Canal revenues, as well as the 'strain of hosting over 9.5 million foreigners.'
During his meeting with Wadephul, Abdelatty affirmed Egypt's aspiration to enhance bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Germany in economic, political, trade, and investment fields to serve mutual interests, given the close relations between the two friendly countries.
He also emphasized Egypt's keenness to work with the German side on energy, renewable energy, addressing climate change, and creating safe and legal pathways for migration, in line with both countries' priorities.
Regarding the Israeli war on Gaza, Abdelatty stressed the urgency of restoring the ceasefire and establishing a political horizon for the creation of an independent Palestinian state to achieve peace, security, and stability in the region.
He also reviewed Egypt's mediation efforts, undertaken alongside Qatar and the United States, to revive the ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to the strip amid the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
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