Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Badr Abdelatty, met with Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in Cairo on Sunday, for political consultations. Discussions focused on bilateral relations between Egypt and the EU, as well as regional and international developments of mutual concern. During the meeting, Abdelatty praised the ongoing dialogue and coordination with the EU on various issues. According to Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdelatty welcomed the progress in relations between Egypt and the EU. He expressed Egypt's desire to continue working with the High Representative to support cooperation within the six pillars of the strategic and comprehensive partnership. He stressed the importance of the economic aspect of the partnership, including the approval and disbursement of the second tranche of the European financial package worth 4 billion euros. Abdelatty also highlighted the significant burden Egypt faces in hosting millions of refugees and migrants. He acknowledged the cooperation between Egypt and the EU in combating terrorism, including Egypt's joint presidency with the EU of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum. The discussions addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip, with Abdelatty emphasising the need to consolidate the ceasefire agreement and contain the ongoing Israeli escalation. He welcomed EU support for the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, urging the EU to participate in its implementation and in the reconstruction conference that Egypt intends to host. The situation in Syria was also discussed. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's support for the Syrian people and their aspirations. He stressed the importance of launching a comprehensive political process that includes all components of Syrian society to achieve security and stability. Regarding recent developments in southern Lebanon, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for the Lebanese state, its national institutions, and its stability. He stressed the need for all parties to implement and adhere to the ceasefire agreement in southern Lebanon, for the immediate and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and for the Lebanese army to be enabled to implement Resolution 1701 without selectivity. The two sides also exchanged views on developments in the Horn of Africa, Red Sea security, and Egyptian water security.
