President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi meets President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola in the Belgian capital of Brussels. Photo: Egyptian Presidency
According to the Egyptian presidency, President El-Sisi’s remarks were made during his meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Brussels, as part of his visit to attend the Egypt-EU summit.
During the meeting, El-Sisi reviewed Egypt’s mediation efforts, carried out in cooperation with international partners, which led to an agreement to end the war in Gaza.
He also highlighted Egypt’s hosting of the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace, which saw high-level global participation.
The president also stressed the need for coordinated efforts between Egypt and European countries in the next phase to ensure the full implementation of the Gaza agreement.
El-Sisi and Metsola underscored the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza, ensuring sufficient humanitarian aid reaches the strip, and providing medical care for the injured, the presidency added.
He further highlighted the need to begin Gaza’s reconstruction, noting that Egypt will host the Conference on Early Recovery, Reconstruction, and Development of Gaza in the second half of November.
The talks also addressed Egypt’s efforts to promote security and stability in the Middle East and to resolve regional crises in ways that preserve state sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect the resources of their peoples.
For her part, Metsola commended Egypt’s efforts in brokering the Gaza ceasefire, stressing that it would not have been possible without President El-Sisi’s leadership.
She also reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to advancing the two-state solution.
Metsola expressed deep appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal role in the region, describing it as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East and southern Mediterranean.
Egypt-EU ties
Moreover, El-Sisi praised the European Parliament's supportive role, in particular that of Metsola, in strengthening the Egypt-EU partnership.
He emphasized the importance of continued cooperation on shared issues and accelerating the implementation of the Egypt-EU Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership.
The president also called for further strengthening of parliamentary dialogue between Egypt and Europe as a bridge of communication between the peoples of both Mediterranean shores.
Both sides agreed on the importance of closer communication between the Egyptian Parliament — both the House of Representatives and the Senate — and the European Parliament on issues of mutual interest.
The meeting also addressed irregular migration, commending Egypt’s success in preventing migrant boats from departing from its shores since September 2016.
El-Sisi and Metsola stressed the importance of enhancing European cooperation by creating job opportunities for skilled Egyptian workers, expanding study and training programmes in European countries, and promoting development and stability in the region.
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