President El-Sisi Heads to Brussels to Participate in the 6th European-African Union Summit

Ashraf AboArafe

This morning, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi heads to Brussels to participate in the 6th European Union-African Union Summit, which is held on the 17th and 18th of February in the Belgian capital, the seat of the European Union.

The Spokesman for the Presidency said the European Union-African Union Summit is held this year under the theme “Africa and Europe: Two Continents with a Shared Vision until 2030”. The EU-AU summits’ first edition was held in Cairo in 2000, and witnessed the establishment of the partnership’s mechanisms through “Cairo Action Plan”. This took into consideration that the European side is one of the most prominent international partners the AU is keen on enhancing relations with, particularly with regard to dossiers pertinent to development and maintaining international peace and security. This is in addition to the continuous consultations between the two sides on ways to address common challenges.

The Spokesman added that during the EU-AU summit, the President is expected to focus on various issues of interest to African countries, notably with regard to strengthening international efforts to facilitate their integration into the global economy. President El-Sisi is also set to confirm the importance of providing effective assistance to African countries in their endeavors to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, transferring technology to developing countries, boosting foreign investment injections into these countries and empowering developing countries to increase their reliance on renewable sources of energy. President El-Sisi will also review Egypt’s preparations to host the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UNFCCC and Egypt’s efforts for the conference to reach balanced and applicable outcomes. The President is also expected to emphasize the need to crystalize a joint vision to support and fund the African continent during the COVID-19 pandemic, while facilitating the fair access and distribution of the various techniques relevant to the pandemic, notably with regard to the production of vaccines.

President El-Sisi’s agenda during his visit also includes holding summit talks with King of Belgium, King Philippe Léopold, and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo, to discuss ways to foster closer bilateral relations so as to achieve the common interests of the two countries and their peoples, and promote coordination and consultations between the two sides on a multitude of regional and international dossiers of mutual concern.

President El-Sisi will also hold a meeting with a group from the Belgian business community to explore ways to further advance cooperation in the economic, trade and investment areas between the two sides.

On the sidelines of the EU-AU summit, the President will meet with EU leaders as well as a number of heads of state and government to discuss ways to further enhance cooperation and consultations on various regional and international issues.