The meeting will bring together the foreign affairs ministers of the 42 UfM member states to discuss regional developments, according to the union website.

The gathering will take place in the framework of the celebrations surrounding the first Day of the Mediterranean, which commemorates on 28 November the start of the process that eventually led to the union’s establishment.

Egypt's top diplomat will underscore the importance of the UfM as an institutional framework for regional cooperation in various domains, most notably in the environment, climate, economic development and digital transformation fields.

He also will reiterate Egypt’s commitment to cooperation with UfM member states within the framework of the union’s adopted strategy since its establishment in 2008, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

Shoukry will also participate in the third ministerial meeting of the European Union (EU)–Southern Neighbourhood, a body that covers the EU's relations with southern partners, including Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Israel.

The Egyptian minister will review Egypt’s priorities surrounding cooperation with the European side in several fields, according to the statement.

FM Shoukry will underscore the significance of increasing the European investments in Egypt and the southern neighbourhood states, as well as develop the access of exports to European markets, with the aim of achieving sustainable development objectives.