On Sunday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell endorsed the Egypt-EU Partnership Priorities Document during the ninth meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council in Luxembourg.

“On the priorities of our partnership, we will be focusing on building a sustainable economy — mainly on the green and digital transition — on sharing our partnership on foreign affairs, and continuously advancing our common commitments on human rights and the rule of law,” said Borrell.

“We are also going to support Egypt on food security, which is one of the most important topics in which we have to engage,” he added.

The council also said that it reviewed the state of EU-Egyptian bilateral relations and held a discussion on the developments and prospects of the Association Agreement between the two parties. 

Moreover, Borrell and Shoukry conducted a political dialogue on global and regional issues of mutual concern during the council meetings.

As per the EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities Document 2021-2027  — shared with Ahram Online — the two sides will partner in advancing socio-economic objectives under Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy, which is part of the country’s 2030 Vision, with a particular focus on sustainable development needs.

This includes strengthening resilience, building prosperity, and supporting the country’s digital and green economy transformation.

As part of this goal, the EU will support Egypt’s business environment, trade, and investment to integrate Egypt further into regional and global value chains.

Moreover, the EU will back the country’s policies in promoting e-commerce, digital trade, competition regulation, as well as boosting its investment potential by improving the business climate and the development of the Egyptian Green Information and Communication Technology Strategy.

This area of priority also covers social development and social justice, energy, environment, and climate action.

Additionally, foreign policy is an area of partnership between the two parties. According to the document, Egypt and EU will work together on stabilising the common neighbourhood and beyond, especially in the Mediterranean region and Africa.

It also involves accelerating cooperation in crisis management and response bilaterally and regionally while enhancing stability in their communities and across the region.

“Human rights, along with civil, political, economic, social, labour, and cultural rights as set out in international human rights law, the Treaty on European Union, and the principles of democracy enshrined in the Egyptian Constitution are essential to the stability of both parties and are a common value, constituting the cornerstone of a modern democratic state,” the document said.

Furthermore, security, terrorism, migration, and mobility are a common ground between the two sides that will be dealt with through a comprehensive approach.

“In the spirit of co-ownership, the EU and Egypt jointly defined these Partnership Priorities in correlation with the review of the Agenda for the Mediterranean and of the Council Conclusions. In 2024, a mid-term review is scheduled to evaluate the impact of and, when necessary, to adapt the Partnership Priorities,” said the document.

“The Association Committee and Association Council will remain the key bodies that will carry out the overall assessment of the implementation of the Partnership Priorities on an annual basis.”