Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed a number of issues with European Council President Charles Michel in a phone call on Thursday, including relations between Egypt and the European Union.

Among the issues that were tackled were ways to strengthen mutual relations between the two sides at all levels, El-Sisi’s spokesman Bassam Rady said in the statement.

El-Sisi and Michel, a Belgian politician who has been the president of the European Council since 2019, also touched on the coordination efforts on the most important regional issues, especially in light of the EU summit that is due to be held later this month, Rady said.

According to the statement, the two parties reviewed the various aspects of the institutional relationship between Egypt and the EU in its political, economic and developmental dimensions.

Emphasis was placed during the call on the importance of continuing to strengthen cooperation and mutual dialogue in order to consolidate the friendly relations in light of common interests and challenges, the statement said.

They also tackled the coordination between Egypt and the EU on various important international and regional issues, especially the developments in the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and in Libya.

In this regard, the statement said, an agreement was reached on the importance of maximising channels of consultation between the two sides.

Rady said that both sides’ visions converged on the need to continue working to reach a comprehensive political settlement to the Libyan crisis in accordance with international references, so that stability can be restored in the region and a better future for its peoples can be provided.

El-Sisi also stressed the importance of ensuring the continuation of the European support for African countries to face the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, especially on the health and food sectors, in addition to encouraging major European companies to establish more investment projects on the continent.

In addition, he also highlighted the importance of continuing joint cooperation to confront the phenomena of illegal immigration and terrorism in Africa, as they pose a threat to regional and international peace and security, the statement said.