Egypt, EU Agree on Advancing Coordination at All Levels

Ursula von der Leyen expressed to Egyptian President Sisi Brussels’ interest in continuing to advance cooperation with Cairo. (Getty Images)
Ursula von der Leyen expressed to Egyptian President Sisi Brussels’ interest in continuing to advance cooperation with Cairo. (Getty Images)
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Egypt, EU Agree on Advancing Coordination at All Levels

Ursula von der Leyen expressed to Egyptian President Sisi Brussels’ interest in continuing to advance cooperation with Cairo. (Getty Images)
Ursula von der Leyen expressed to Egyptian President Sisi Brussels’ interest in continuing to advance cooperation with Cairo. (Getty Images)

Egypt and the European Union agreed to advance friendly relations and maintain joint coordination in light of the existing multiple and strong ties between them.

On Monday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a phone call from President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen praised the president’s vision to achieve comprehensive development across Egypt, the unremitting efforts to combat terrorism, and Egypt's successful experience in combating illegal immigration, the spokesman for the Egyptian presidency said.

“The call discussed ways to promote bilateral cooperation,” he added, stressing that Sisi confirmed his interest in strengthening cooperation and developing mutual dialogue between the two sides in light of their common interests and challenges.

For her part, the European Commission president underlined the EU’s desire to further boost cooperation with Cairo at various levels in light of Egypt’s leverage in the region.

The call also touched on a number of issues and developments in the region.

Von der Leyen confirmed the European interest that the ongoing coordination with Sisi is ensured on many important international and regional issues, including Egypt's hosting of the COP 27 climate summit this year.

The two sides agreed on the need to continue consultation, exchange views and intensify cooperation to reach political settlements for the various crises facing the region and maintaining peace and security in the Middle East, Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.

“This is necessary for both restoring stability in the region and securing a better future for its people,” the spokesman added.



France Highlights Its Role in Brokering Lebanon Ceasefire Deal

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
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France Highlights Its Role in Brokering Lebanon Ceasefire Deal

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)

France’s foreign minister underlined his country’s role in brokering an agreement that ended fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group alongside the US, saying the deal wouldn’t have been possible without France’s special relationship with its former protectorate.

“It’s a success for French diplomacy and we can be proud,” said the minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking hours after the ceasefire went into effect Wednesday.

“It is true that the United States have a privileged relationship with Israel. But with Lebanon, it’s France that has very old ties, very close ties,” the minister added. “It would not have been possible to envisage a ceasefire in Lebanon without France being involved on the front line.”

France will be involved in monitoring the ceasefire, Barrot noted, with 700 French soldiers deployed as part of the 10,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, that has been patrolling the border area between Lebanon and Israel for nearly 50 years.

The minister said France will also work to strengthen Lebanese troops that will deploy in the south of the country as part of the ceasefire, although he didn’t specify what that might include.