President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call today from Antonio Costa, President of the European Council.
According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, President El-Sisi congratulated Costa on his recent appointment as President of the European Council. The president emphasized Egypt’s commitment to strengthening its relations with the European Union, particularly under Costa’s leadership. He also highlighted the ongoing momentum in Egypt-EU cooperation, especially with the elevation of their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. El-Sisi stressed the importance of fully implementing all aspects of this partnership.
Appreciation for Egypt’s Role in Regional Stability
On the other hand, European Council President Antonio Costa expressed deep appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal role, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in ensuring the stability of the region.
During a phone call with President El-Sisi on Thursday, Costa underscored the European Union’s continued commitment to strengthening consultation with Egypt and supporting its efforts to maintain regional stability during this critical period.
President El-Sisi, in turn, congratulated Costa on his recent appointment as President of the European Council, as announced by Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy.
The conversation also addressed a number of regional issues of mutual concern. President El-Sisi highlighted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitate the exchange of hostages, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. He reaffirmed that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to achieving peace, stability, and development in the Middle East.
The President also emphasized the importance of the European Union’s support for Egypt, particularly given its hosting of over nine million foreigners as a result of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Furthermore, El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s role as the first line of defense against illegal migration towards Europe.
In this context, he noted that Egypt had lost approximately seven billion dollars in 2024 due to a decrease in Suez Canal revenues, attributed to the security situation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
