Future co-operation with EU

The progress in economic projects undertaken jointly by Egypt and the European Union was the focus of an official meeting Tuesday.

Egyptian Minister of International Co-operation Rania el-Mashaat and EU Ambassador Christian Berger addressed the future strategy of co-operation for the period 2021-2027 within the framework of the EU Neighbourhood, Development and International Co-operation Instrument (NDICI).

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, announced last February the bloc’s NDICI for 2021-2027 for the long-term economic and social revival of the union’s neighbours.

This will be achieved through an economic and investment plan, likely to help muster public and private capital over the next decade.

The objectives of the new NDICI strategy are in harmony with priorities set by the Government of Egypt, the minister said.

New NDICI objectives cover the transformation to a green economy, renewable energy, developing the sustainable infrastructure, digitisation, further women’s empowerment, healthcare programmes, education and social protection networks.

El-Mashaat urged the EU to expand mixed financing tools to attract more private investment to Egypt.

For his part, Berger said Egyptian-EU ties are important in supporting government efforts towards sustainable development.

Berger also lauded the role of the international co-operation ministry for coordination with the official bodies that benefit from the bloc’s financing.

El-Mashaat received an invitation from Berger, the European Investment Bank (EIB) regional director and the Portuguese ambassador to address a discussion panel on April on the sustainability of water resources and the preservation of oceans.