In the context of the extensive and complex relations between Egypt and the European Union, which have roots spanning decades, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid’s role in Brussels stands out as a central link between Cairo and Brussels.
These relations, considered a model of comprehensive strategic partnership, cover diverse fields including economy, security, culture, and education.
In our interview with Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, we review the depth and dimensions of this partnership, highlight key milestones in its development, and discuss the challenges and opportunities it faces amid current geopolitical and economic changes.
Egyptian-European Relations: A Historical Continuity and Diverse Fields of Cooperation
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid explains that the relations between Egypt and Europe are not a recent development but are deeply rooted historically and extend over many decades, covering numerous areas such as economy, security, culture, and migration. These relations were founded on the Egypt-European Partnership Agreement signed in 2004, which established specialized committees covering trade, transport, migration, as well as technological and educational issues. The importance of continuous political dialogue is also emphasized through the Joint Cooperation Council between the Egyptian Foreign Minister and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: A Turning Point
A decisive turning point came last year with the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership, which elevated the level of relations between Egypt and the European Union to new heights. This partnership is granted to only a limited number of countries, confirming Egypt’s importance as the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to receive this distinguished status, reflecting Egypt’s pivotal role for the EU and vice versa.
European Financial Support to Egypt: A Comprehensive Package for Economic Stability
Ambassador Abu Zeid focuses on the financial support package decided by the EU for Egypt under this partnership, totaling 5 billion euros, including 1.8 billion euros in direct financial support, investment guarantees, and grants for migration projects amounting to 200 million euros. The package is divided into two tranches: the first tranche (1 billion euros) was disbursed at the end of last year, and the second (4 billion euros) was recently approved by the European Parliament and the European Council to begin disbursing before the end of this year. This support comes at a critical time amid global and regional economic crises, including food and energy crises and maritime security tensions affecting the Suez Canal and Egypt’s economic returns.
The disbursement is contingent on a comprehensive economic reform program done in cooperation with the IMF, which required extensive negotiations with European parliamentarians to ensure proper management that benefits Egypt and the region.
Geopolitical Challenges and Their Impact on Egyptian-European Cooperation
The ambassador points to regional and global challenges facing both Egypt and the EU, such as conflicts in the Middle East, peace crises, and the Russia-Ukraine war, which have caused disruptions in supply chains, energy, and food. These crises require multilateral diplomatic dialogue to maintain stability and peace, demonstrating the importance of the strategic partnership in confronting shared challenges. He also stresses the need for the European Parliament to understand Egypt’s regional role in supporting peace and conflict resolution, which builds credibility and growing support for these relations.
Future Prospects: The Upcoming Summit and Partnership Dynamics
Egypt and the EU view the coming period as an opportunity to strengthen the partnership, especially with the first summit within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership, expected to create strong dynamics in relations and rearrange priorities and political, economic, and security interests for both parties. This summit comes at a time when the region and the world face complex challenges that require combined efforts amid financial and debt crises, international law challenges, and security and economic issues.
This dialogue reflects a clear vision and confidence in the depth of the Egypt-EU partnership, founded on shared interests and mutual support in facing contemporary challenges.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, with his extensive diplomatic experience, provides an objective and comprehensive picture of today’s Egypt-European relations and their vital future.
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