Ashraf AboArafe
On Monday, July 14, 2025, Dr. Badr Abdel Aaty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, met with Ms. Dubravka Šuica, European Commission Vice-President for the Mediterranean, to discuss bilateral relations and recent developments related to the EU’s forthcoming Mediterranean Charter. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Fifth EU–Southern Neighbourhood Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Brussels.
Minister Abdel Aaty praised the positive momentum in Egypt–EU relations, highlighting the comprehensive and strategic partnership between both sides. He welcomed the recent decision by the European Parliament and Council approving the second tranche of macro-financial assistance to Egypt, amounting to €4 billion. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhancing economic, trade, and investment ties with the EU, and to following up on the outcomes of the Egypt–EU Investment Conference held in June 2024.
The two sides also discussed the EU’s plans to launch the Mediterranean Charter by the end of this year, aimed at strengthening political dialogue and building sustainable partnerships with Southern Mediterranean countries. Minister Abdel Aaty emphasized the importance of mobilizing new sources of financing and attracting increased European investment to support economic development in the region. He also underscored the need to promote unrestricted trade, facilitate access of Egyptian exports to European markets, expand legal migration pathways, and improve access to labor markets. Additionally, he stressed the importance of reducing regional tensions to promote security and stability.
