Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, explored on Thursday avenues for strengthening bilateral relations between Egypt and the European Union. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, and investment, while also laying out a roadmap for activating the strategic and comprehensive partnership between the two sides across multiple sectors. The meeting was attended by Hanafy El-Gebali, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Badr Abdel-Atti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Affairs Abroad, as well as Angelina Eichhorst,MEU Ambassador-Designate and Head of Delegation to Egypt. According to a statement from the Presidential Spokesperson, President Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to working closely with the European Parliament to bolster the EU-Egypt partnership. This includes fostering stronger parliamentary relations to ensure robust and effective communication between the two peoples. Key issues discussed also included continued collaboration on migration management and counterterrorism efforts. President Sisi emphasised Egypt's pivotal role in preventing illegal immigration, positioning the country as Europe's first line of defence. With more than nine million refugees and displaced persons hosted in Egypt due to regional crises, the President stressed the importance of supporting the country's efforts to curb irregular migration. The meeting also touched on the ongoing economic challenges, with President Sisi pointing to significant losses incurred by Egypt, including an estimated $7 billion drop in Suez Canal revenues in 2024 due to geopolitical instability in the region. As both sides work toward a stronger, more cooperative future, the discussions marked an important step in reinforcing the vital partnership between Egypt and the European Union. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
