MFA Holds Roundtable on European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) Mechanism for Energy Sector

Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates convened a high-level roundtable with European Union officials and international financial institutions to accelerate the implementation of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), placing the country's energy sector at the center of a broader strategy to mobilize sustainable investment.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation Samar El-Ahdal and brought together Fulvio Capurso, Head of the EFSD+ Facility for the Middle East and North Africa at the European Commission, alongside representatives from multilateral development banks, development partners, government agencies, and private-sector stakeholders.

The discussions form part of efforts to operationalize the EFSD+, a key pillar of the Egypt–European Union Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership launched during the Egypt-EU Summit in March 2024.

Under the initiative, the European Union aims to mobilize up to €5 billion in investments by 2027 through a combination of investment guarantees, blended finance instruments, and risk-sharing mechanisms designed to attract both public and private capital into sustainable development projects.

Participants identified the energy sector as one of the program's highest priorities, highlighting investment opportunities across renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy efficiency, and low-carbon infrastructure. Discussions also explored financing solutions and risk mitigation tools intended to encourage greater private-sector participation in strategic energy projects.

Opening the roundtable, El-Ahdal said the meeting reflects the growing depth of cooperation between Egypt and the European Union and their shared commitment to accelerating the transition toward cleaner, more efficient energy systems.

She noted that expanding renewable energy capacity, improving energy efficiency, and advancing green hydrogen and low-carbon energy projects remain central pillars of Egypt's sustainable development agenda. She added that the EFSD+ framework provides an advanced model for cooperation by bringing together the Egyptian government, the European Commission, international financial institutions, and private investors to channel capital toward priority sectors, particularly energy, climate action, and sustainable infrastructure.

On his part, Fulvio Capurso reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to supporting sustainable investment and strengthening private-sector engagement in Egypt's development agenda. He said the EFSD+ mechanism is expected to play a significant role in financing transformative projects, particularly in the energy sector, while advancing the long-term objectives of the Egypt-EU Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership.

The roundtable underscores both sides' intention to deepen economic cooperation by leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate Egypt's green transition and attract long-term investment into critical infrastructure and climate-focused initiatives.