Egypt’s Shoukry, EU Commission’s Timmermans Hold Talks in Preparation for COP27 Summit

Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the Vice-President of the European Union Commission (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the Vice-President of the European Union Commission (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt’s Shoukry, EU Commission’s Timmermans Hold Talks in Preparation for COP27 Summit

Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the Vice-President of the European Union Commission (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the Vice-President of the European Union Commission (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the European Green Deal and Climate Change Negotiations, Frans Timmermans, in Cairo on Sunday.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Cairo is keen to consult with all parties concerned with international climate action.

The meeting came in light of Cairo’s preparations for the COP27 Climate Summit, which will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh Red Sea Resort in late 2022.

Timmermans is scheduled to meet during his two-day visit to Egypt with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohammed Shaker, Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad Abdelaziz, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek al-Mulla and Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala al-Saeed.

The EU climate policy chief will bring up the Mediterranean Green Hydrogen Partnership to enhance communication on topics of mutual interest, such as the transition to clean energy, energy efficiency, green growth models, energy diversification, sustainable finance, carbon markets and adaptation.

Madbouly, for his part, held a meeting on Sunday to follow up on the efforts to address problems facing tourist investors in Sharm el-Sheikh and ensure they complete the implementation of their projects in the hotel sector.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Khaled al-Anany, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Assem al-Gazzar, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, Major General Khaled Fouda, Governor of South Sinai, Seraj al-Din Saad, Assistant Minister of Housing for the General Authority for Tourism Development, and officials from various relevant authorities.



France to Host Lebanon Aid Conference, Macron Says

France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the closing session of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the closing session of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
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France to Host Lebanon Aid Conference, Macron Says

France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the closing session of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the closing session of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 5, 2024. (AFP)

France will host an international conference this month to help drum up humanitarian aid for Lebanon and strengthen security in the southern part of the country, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.

"We will hold in the next few weeks a conference to provide humanitarian aid, support the international community and support the Lebanese armed forces boost security, especially in southern Lebanon," Macron said after a meeting of French speaking countries in Paris.

Israel has begun an intense bombing campaign in Lebanon and sent troops across the border in recent weeks after nearly a year of exchanging fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Fighting had previously been mostly limited to the Israel-Lebanon border area, taking place in parallel to Israel's year-old war in Gaza against Palestinian group Hamas.  

Earlier, Macron said shipments of arms used in the conflict in Gaza should be stopped as part of a broader effort to find a political solution.  

France is not a major weapons provider for Israel, shipping military equipment worth 30 million euros ($33 million) last year, according to the defense ministry's annual arms exports report.  

"I think the priority today is to get back to a political solution (and) that arms used to fight in Gaza are halted. France doesn't ship any," Macron told France Inter radio.  

"Our priority now is to avoid escalation. The Lebanese people must not in turn be sacrificed, Lebanon cannot become another Gaza," he added.  

Macron's comments come as his Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot is on a four-day trip to the Middle East, wrapping up on Monday in Israel as Paris looks to play a role in reviving diplomatic efforts.