Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad met on Tuesday with Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the European Union Delegation to Cairo, to explore ways to boost cooperation between Egypt and the EU in advancing green transformation efforts.
Fouad praised the EU’s longstanding support for Egypt in environmental matters, including capacity building, biodiversity conservation, and the establishment of Ras Mohammed as Egypt’s first nature reserve.She noted that this cooperation helped Egypt develop strong mechanisms for implementing environmental law.
The minister highlighted the strategic partnership between Egypt and the EU in promoting green transformation. This includes reducing industrial emissions through joint projects like the Industrial Pollution Control Project and the upcoming Green Industry Project (GSI), which aim to help factories meet environmental standards at lower costs, supporting both compliance and export potential.
Minister Fouad also referred to the success of the National Solid Waste Management Program, carried out with German support, which led to Egypt’s first waste law in 2020, rooted in the circular economy approach.
She emphasized the importance of continuing collaboration to ensure a fair and inclusive green transition by engaging all stakeholders, including the private sector, youth, and women.
Fouad underscored Egypt’s global leadership in biodiversity, notably through its role at COP14 and the launch of the globally significant “synergy initiative,” which integrates climate, desertification, and biodiversity efforts.
Ambassador Eichhorst responded by expressing the EU’s keen interest in strengthening its partnership with Egypt in crucial sectors like green industry, waste management, and the blue economy. She further emphasized the importance of establishing clear indicators to showcase the benefits of international collaboration for a just green transition. Looking ahead, the meeting addressed Egypt’s forthcoming National Blue Economy Strategy, its hosting of the Barcelona Convention aimed at reducing Mediterranean pollution, and collaborative adaptation strategies, especially concerning food security.
