On Tuesday 23 January, the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy, Olivér Várhelyi, announced that a new partnership between the EU and Egypt could be signed in the coming weeks. This strategic and comprehensive partnership will be based on the Association Agreement and the partnership priorities.
“We have a mutual desire and political will to elevate our relationship to a full partnership”, explained the Egyptian Prime Minister, Sameh Shoukry, at the end of the 20th EU/Egypt Association Council, adding that his country greatly appreciated the support received from the European Commission and the Member States.
This relationship is set to change very soon. “Hopefully next month we should be able to get all the green lights from our member states and move forward to signature so that we can start the implementation very soon”, explained Mr Várhelyi. According to him, the new partnership will focus on political relations, economic stability, trade investment, migration and mobility, security, demographics and human capital.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, also stressed that the new partnership would strengthen political dialogue and support Egypt’s economic and social development, as well as its reform agenda. He pointed out that the EU and Egypt already had a high level of cooperation, notably in counter-terrorism, migration – an area in which the EU wants to step up its support – and human rights, an area “in which we have agreed to deepen our dialogue”.
He added that Cairo was a “crucial” partner for peace and stability in the Middle East.
In addition, the EU and Egypt have signed an agreement enabling Egypt to negotiate its participation in European programmes open to third countries, such as Horizon Europe.
See the joint statement issued at the end of the Association Council: https://aeur.eu/f/aj6 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)