President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of economic cooperation, investment, and trade, while advancing the strategic and comprehensive partnership between Egypt and the European Union (EU).
Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr. Hanafi Gebali, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdel-Aati, and Ambassador of the European Union to Cairo Angelina Eichhorst attended the meeting
At the outset of the meeting, President Sisi congratulated Ms. Metsola on assuming her new role and reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the EU. He emphasized the importance of fostering enhanced parliamentary relations to promote effective communication between the peoples of both sides, as stated by the Presidency Spokesman, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy.
The discussions also highlighted the significance of continued collaboration in areas such as migration and counter-terrorism, with a particular focus on supporting Egypt’s efforts to combat illegal immigration. President Sisi underscored Egypt’s role as a key frontline defender for Europe, hosting over nine million foreign nationals due to regional crises. He also noted that Egypt had faced a loss of approximately $7 billion in Suez Canal revenues in 2024, following Houthi attacks on commercial vessels near Bab al-Mandab amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional developments. President Sisi outlined Egypt’s efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of hostages, and facilitate humanitarian aid access to the Strip. He stressed that the two-state solution remains the only viable option for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. Furthermore, President Sisi called for continued efforts to prevent further escalation of the conflict and restore regional security, with particular attention to reinforcing the ceasefire in Lebanon and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The situation in Syria was also discussed, with President Sisi reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to Syria’s unity and territorial integrity. He emphasized the need for an inclusive political process that represents all segments of Syrian society and reiterated Egypt’s unwavering support for the Syrian people.
Additionally, President Sisi and President Metsola addressed the situations in Libya, Sudan, and Somalia, with President Sisi stressing Egypt’s dedication to the unity, security, and stability of these nations.
In response, President Metsola expressed the EU’s deep appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal role in safeguarding regional stability and security, reaffirming the EU’s interest in further enhancing coordination and consultation with Egypt on all mutual concerns.
This meeting represents a further step in strengthening the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union, highlighting shared goals of regional stability and cooperation on pressing global challenges.
