As smoke columns swirl over the bombed-out remains of an entire Russian tank squadron near Biolhorivka in the Donbas region, images of the war in Ukraine must surely cast gloom over Europe Day celebrations in Cairo last Monday.
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Egypt Christian Berger said Ukraine, a sovereign and independent state, has found itself subjected to brutal and unprovoked aggression.
“Millions of innocent civilians have been forced to flee their country, many killed, maimed, raped or orphaned,” Berger said, adding that the fallout from the war is having a grave impact on the global economy, which is still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.
All in the same boat
On May 9, the European Union Delegation in Egypt celebrated Europe Day amid high hopes for the future. This day also marks the 45th anniversary of European-Egyptian relations and 50 years of regional co-operation.
Meanwhile, Portuguese Ambassador to Egypt Manuela Franco was somewhat more forceful in her take on events east of the Danube.
“We have to stand together. We have to be working together,” Franco said in her Europe Day speech. “The EU is moving to help countries that are grappling with difficulties arising from the war. We are all in the same boat. A war on self-determination is a war that needs to be fought.”
As for the impact of the war in Ukraine on joint co-operation, Franco said this war definitely provoked very strong reactions, which also will bring hardship to many countries in different ways. “As there is war, there is suffering,” she said.
The Portuguese envoy warmed to another theme in her speech, saying: “First, we have the past from which we learn. And now we are focused on how to develop 2030 vision, climate, and sustainability. We are on the same page.
“It is special with Egypt that we have common objectives, even though sometimes the ways to attain those objectives are not always the same. But the objectives are definitely common and this commonality means you have something to look forward to.”
Franco describes prospects for Egyptian-EU cooperation as “very positive”.
Green economy,digitisation ‘promising areas’
Bilateral ties were at the core of Ambassador Berger’s message on this special day. Berger told the Egyptian Mail said that the EU initiated the bilateral relationship with Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 1972 and by 1977 EU had firm relations with Egypt.
“We have co-operation in every field of life from water and agriculture to women’s and youth empowerment, stability and governance. We call each other strategic partners,” Berger said.
The ambassador added that the EU fully supports Egypt’s presidency of COP27, which will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh in November.
“We are now preparing a programme and we will support the conference itself with financial support. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will handle this project,” the ambassador said, pointing out intensive consultations with the COP27 presidency and the recent visit to Egypt by Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans.
Promising areas for cooperation are the green economy and digitisation, women’s empowerment, while funding youth and women’s activities are at the heart of the EU agenda, the envoy said.
‘Growing momentum
of Egypt- EU ties’
Representing Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli was Ambassador Ihab Nasr, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, whose speech praised the success story of the EU, which was created through basic economic co-operation paving the way to becoming the largest economic bloc in the world and an important player on the international stage.
“The EU is proof that peace and security can exist between erstwhile enemies if there is strong political will,” Nasr said.
“Today, the world needs more than ever way to call on peace to overcome political and armed conflicts worldwide,” he added.
“Egypt supports peaceful solutions and political settlements in order to achieve peace and security for all people of the world.”
On Egypt-EU ties, Nasr pointed said recent years have witnessed the upgrade of political and economic co-operation to cover a wide spectrum.
He also spoke of the will of both parties to expand the scope of co-operation on economic, cultural, tourism and investment levels.
“Allow me to express my satisfaction of the intensity of high-level visits organised recently and the growing momentum that our relations are gaining.”
Nasr went on to say that the cornerstone of Egyptian-European relations is the Egypt-EU Partnership Council, which is due to meet in Brussels soon to inaugurate a new phase of strategic co-operation.
“Egypt considers EU an important strategic partner. We are eager to further expand that partnership,” he said.
Relations with France
‘progressing well’
French Ambassador to Egypt Marc Baréty praised Egypt-EU ties saying: “I think these relations are progressing very well.”
“This is for the benefit of EU and Egypt. We are quite confident they will take these relations farther,” Baréty added and went on to describe Egyptian-French cultural ties as “excellent”.
The ambassador mentioned the selection of Egyptian soprano Farrah el-Dibany to sing on French President Emanuel Macron’s election victory day.
“Only a few weeks previously, I gave Ms el-Dibany the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres to acknowledge her commitment to promoting cultural relations between Egypt and France,” he said.
The EU is celebrating Europe Day through a series of activities organised by the EU Delegation and its member states in Cairo and Alexandria with online events such as the video campaign ‘EU27@COP27’
