Cairo – Ashraf AboArafe – Rabaye Shahine
The Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Egypt, Ambassador Christian Berger, presented his credentials to H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday, September 23rd.
“I am honoured to serve as the EU Ambassador to Egypt, ‘um al dunia’, and offer my heartfelt greetings and deep respect to the people of Egypt. The EU and Egypt are close partners and enjoy a long-standing friendship and strong relations in many fields. The EU is Egypt’s largest trading partner and the number one foreign direct investor. We also work together on global issues facing the EU and Egypt, like the current pandemic,” said Ambassador Berger.
“Together with my wife Marilena, we personally feel very happy to getting re-acquainted with this wonderful country and its people. I look forward to working closely with our Egyptian partners in the government, civil society, the business community and many other stakeholders. With our partners and friends in the League of Arab States we will further deepen our co-operation in the face of common strategic challenges,” he added.
Before coming to Egypt Christian Berger served as Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey from 2016 to 2020, and Ambassador to Turkmenistan. From 2011 to 2016, he was the Director/Deputy Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the European External Action Service in Brussels; and from 2008 to 2011 EU Representative / Head of Delegation in Jerusalem.
From 2006 to 2008 he was Head of the European Commission Crisis Response & Peace-building Unit, and from 2005 to 2006 EU-Representative to the Quartet Special Envoy (James Wolfensohn), working mainly on the Rafah Agreement (Egypt-Gaza border crossing).
In 1997 Christian Berger joined the European institutions. At first he was responsible for relations with Syria, then Political Advisor on Middle East issues. In earlier positions he served with the OSCE in Vienna and the United Nations in Syria (UNDOF), Gaza and Jerusalem (UNRWA).
Christian Berger is Austrian citizen; he is married with two children and holds degrees in law from the Universities of Vienna and London (LSE).
