CAIRO, March 2 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli praised the positive momentum in Egypt-EU relations, especially since the recent upgrade of their partnership to a strategic level in March 2024.

During a meeting with Dubravka Šuica, EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Madbouli stated that the partnership serves mutual economic, political, and security interests, especially amid regional instability.

He welcomed Šuica’s appointment, seeing it as a sign of the EU’s commitment to deepening Mediterranean cooperation.

Madbouli discussed Egypt’s economic challenges, including the drop in Suez Canal revenues due to regional tensions, and called for enhanced EU support, particularly through direct investments in green hydrogen, renewable energy, and technology.

He also confirmed Egypt’s plans to increase graduates in key sectors like medicine, engineering, and IT, aiming to create structured labor agreements with Europe to meet workforce demands.

Šuica, who had earlier met President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to strengthening ties with Egypt in trade, investment, and regional stability, noting ongoing efforts to draft a new EU-Southern Mediterranean cooperation framework.

She stressed the importance of joint efforts in energy, migration management, and security, underscoring Egypt’s vital role in regional peace and economic development.

The meeting also tackled Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan, developed with the Palestinian Authority, with both sides agreeing on the need for international backing to ensure successful implementation.

For her part, Minister of Planning Rania Al-Mashat highlighted Egypt’s economic resilience, investment climate, and commitment to green transformation, reinforcing the country’s readiness to attract more EU investment in key sectors. (MENA)
H A T/R G E