Egypt and France Collaborate on Environment, Discuss COP27

The Egyptian Minister of Environment meets with the French Ambassador and several French companies’ representatives. (The Ministry of Environment)
The Egyptian Minister of Environment meets with the French Ambassador and several French companies’ representatives. (The Ministry of Environment)
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Egypt and France Collaborate on Environment, Discuss COP27

The Egyptian Minister of Environment meets with the French Ambassador and several French companies’ representatives. (The Ministry of Environment)
The Egyptian Minister of Environment meets with the French Ambassador and several French companies’ representatives. (The Ministry of Environment)

Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad stressed the deeply-rooted ties between Egypt and France and reviewed with the French ambassador the latest environmental developments, climate change, and biological diversity.

The head of the French chamber of commerce and representatives of several French companies in Egypt also attended the meeting between Fouad and French Ambassador to Cairo Marc Barety.

In press statements, the ambassador noted that climate change has become a challenge facing the whole world.

Barety commended the efforts exerted by Egypt to support climate change and said he was looking forward to the upcoming climate summit (COP27).

The Egyptian Minister noted that Egypt’s hosting of the summit next year will provide a chance for further negotiations on the responsibilities of developed countries.

She said a higher committee concerned with the climate summit will include a workgroup to facilitate the participation of the private sector and civil society organizations in preparations for the event.

The summit will give all business sector companies the opportunity to be involved in climate-related work and contribute to Egypt’s change to a friendlier environment in the development and business processes, added the minister.

Fouad also said the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Tourism are working hand in hand to support environmental tourism in Egypt.



EU’s Kallas Says She Hopes for Political Agreement on Easing Syria Sanctions

In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
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EU’s Kallas Says She Hopes for Political Agreement on Easing Syria Sanctions

In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)
In this photograph taken on January 12, 2025, a vendor waits for customers at her mobile shop in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital. (AFP)

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing Syria sanctions can be reached at a gathering of European ministers next week.

EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Syria during a meeting in Brussels on Jan. 27.

European officials began rethinking their approach towards Syria after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president by opposition forces led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which the United Nations designates as a terrorist group.

Some European capitals want to move quickly to suspend economic sanctions in a signal of support for the transition in Damascus. Others have sought to ensure that even if some sanctions are eased, Brussels retains leverage in its relationship with the new Syrian authorities.

“We are ready to do step-for-step approach and also to discuss what is the fallback position,” Kallas told Reuters in an interview.

“If we see that the developments are going in the wrong direction, then we are also willing to put them back,” she added.

Six EU member states called this month for the bloc to temporarily suspend sanctions on Syria in areas such as transport, energy and banking.

Current EU sanctions include a ban on Syrian oil imports and a freeze on any Syrian central bank assets in Europe.