Brussels - Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry had a meeting on Monday with 28 foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) within the framework of his current visit to the Belgian capital Brussels to enhance Egyptian ties with the strategic partners worldwide. The meeting started with a speech by Shoukry where he expressed his appreciation to the negotiations that took place over the past year between the Egyptian and European sides which resulted in reaching an agreement about a document of partnership priorities that represents a general framework for ties between Egypt and the EU institutions during the coming three years. He further expressed his keenness on holding the partnership council as soon as possible to start a new phase between Egypt and the EU. Shoukry tackled the sustainable development strategy 2030 which was announced in February 2016. The strategy represents a negotiation reference for the Egyptian side pertaining to the partnership priorities with the EU to guarantee the implementation of the national developmental agenda, said the Foreign Ministry spokesman in statements on Monday. It will crystallize the main goals in the economic, social and cultural domains and focus on the woman and youth brackets. The get-together included also a detailed explanation about conditions in Egypt on the backdrop of the economic reform program carried out by the Egyptian cabinet and the important economic measures taken during the last phase, the spokesman underlined. The Egyptian top diplomat also explained the existing security and social challenges facing the country, stressing that Egypt looks forward that the EU understands the nature of the reform process taking place in Egypt. The illegal migration issue was also discussed by Shoukry and the European ministers as he tackled the Egyptian successful efforts recently exerted to curb this phenomenon, the spokesman reiterated. The European ministers were keen on getting acquainted with the Egyptian stance towards regional issues such as the Libyan and Syrian crises as well as contacts carried out by Egypt to find a solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The European ministers stressed Egypt's pivotal role in maintaining stability in the region, adding that Egypt is a strategic partner for the EU.
