Egypt Seeks Power Linkage with Europe

Egypt is continuously strengthening power linkage lines with neighboring countries. (Getty Images)
Egypt is continuously strengthening power linkage lines with neighboring countries. (Getty Images)
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Egypt Seeks Power Linkage with Europe

Egypt is continuously strengthening power linkage lines with neighboring countries. (Getty Images)
Egypt is continuously strengthening power linkage lines with neighboring countries. (Getty Images)

Egypt is continuously strengthening power linkage lines with neighboring countries such as Jordan, Sudan, and Libya, announced Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker.

He said the goal in the coming period would be achieving electrical linkage with Europe through maritime cables, which will reach a number of countries in the continent.

He confirmed that the launch of power projects to connect with Libya is a fundamental and strategic goal for the two countries, reported the Middle East News Agency (MENA).

Egypt succeeded in generating electricity to Libya through already existing projects, said Shaker.

The Ministry is studying a huge project for power linkage with Cyprus, Crete and eventually Greece, he revealed.

“When this project is complete, Cairo will be a central hub for electrical interconnection between three continents as Egypt is already electrically connected with both Jordan and Libya,” he said.

Egypt has close relations with Greece and Cyprus, and the three countries regularly hold summits within the framework of their energy cooperation in the Mediterranean.

In December, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed that the cooperation stems from balanced positions based on respect, good neighborliness, and mutual interests for the security and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Egypt is also exploring another project that would add power linkage with Saudi Arabia at peak consumption times throughout the day, announced Shaker.



EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
TT

EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

The European Union may soon suspend sanctions on Syria related to energy and transport but has yet to agree on whether to ease restrictions on financial transactions, according to three diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.
EU foreign ministers will discuss the matter at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. The bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing the sanctions can be reached at the gathering.
Europe’s approach to Damascus began to shift after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president in December by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the United Nations designates as a terrorist group.
Officials see transport as key for helping Syria’s airports become fully operational, which in turn could facilitate the return of refugees. Energy and electricity are similarly seen as important for improving living conditions to help stabilize the country and encourage citizens to come back.
According to an EU document seen by Reuters, diplomats from the bloc's 27 members recommended taking swift action towards suspending the restrictions "in sectors necessary for economic stabilization and launch of economic reconstruction of Syria, such as those regarding energy and transport”.
The diplomats, who are part of a group that negotiates the EU’s foreign policy positions on issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, also recommended “assessing options for reopening banking and investment relations with Syria”.
“The easing of EU restrictive measures would be rolled out in a staged approach and in a reversible manner, regularly assessing if the conditions in Syria allow for further suspension,” the diplomats wrote, pointing to the need for respect for fundamental freedoms and an inclusive transition.
The wording of the document represents a compromise among EU capitals. Some governments want to move quickly to suspend sanctions, while others prefer a more careful and gradual approach to ensure Europe retains leverage.
If a political agreement is announced on Monday, European officials would proceed to work on the technical details of a suspension.
A number of sanctions should remain in place, according to the document, including measures related to the Al-Assad regime, illicit drug trade and arms trade.