CAIRO – Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt Christian Berger said the European Union and Egypt will enhance cooperation in the face of regional and international challenges, noting that the Gaza war is a key priority.
Berger made the remarks as part of a speech he delivered on the occasion of Europe Day 2024.
He noted that as EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell recently said ”we have to make everybody understand that there is not a military solution. We need to provide a better one. Egypt and the EU agree that this ought to be the two-state solution, not the starting point for an endless process but the endgame. But first, we must end the suffering in Gaza. This requires a sustainable ceasefire, the release of all hostages and full, unhindered access for humanitarian assistance.”
”This is the goal of the mediation efforts of Egypt and others, which the EU fully supports,” Berger said in the speech published on the website of the European Union Delegation to Egypt.
“Egypt and the EU will continue to work on our commitments to further promote democracy, fundamental freedoms, and human rights, gender equality and equal opportunities,” he said.
On economic stability, investment and trade, the European Union supports Egypt’s 2030 Development Agenda to secure long-term macro-economic stability and sustainable economic growth, Berger said according to MENA.
“We will hold an investment conference to bring more European companies to Egypt and enhance cooperation to unleash the full potential of our Free Trade Agreement.”
“We will broaden further our cooperation on water issues on the basis of the Joint Declaration on the EU-Egypt water partnership signed at COP28. We fully recognize Egypt’s heavy reliance on the Nile River and reiterate our support to Egypt’s water security and the compliance with international law,” he added.
“We will adopt a holistic approach to migration and mobility based on the principles of partnership, shared responsibility and burden sharing,” he noted.
Berger said the most important chapter in enhanced cooperation between both sides will be on human capital development through training, education, research and scientific cooperation.
He pointed out that EU-Egypt cooperation and relations have reached a new level and “I sincerely hope that on the occasion of next year’s Europe Day we will see clear and tangible results in a hopefully more peaceful world.”
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