Egypt, EU Plan Joint Bid to Co-Chair Global Counter-Terrorism Body

Egypt is planning a joint bid with the European Union for the leadership of an influential international organization shaping global counter-terrorism policies.

Officials in Brussels last week approved the Egypt-EU bid to co-chair the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), within the framework of Egypt's keenness to contribute to strengthening the efforts of the international community to combat terrorism.

The bid was proposed by France, which currently heads the EU Council’s rotating presidency, on 11 January.

In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Egypt is one of the founding countries of the forum, which was established in 2011, and includes 30 member states.

It added that the forum closely cooperates with the United Nations bodies concerned with combating terrorism and many relevant international and regional organizations, with the aim of supporting efforts to combat terrorism and extremism and strengthening national capacities in this regard.

The GCTF was established in New York in September 2011 and was initially co-chaired by the US and Turkey. It has played an influential role in shaping the direction and development of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism strategies around the world over the past decade.

Its 30 members also include Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Algeria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia and many inpidual European states.

It works closely with the UN to promote the global body’s own counter-terrorism strategy.