President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete discussed issues of the environment, climate change, the volume of development in the electricity sector, and the mechanisms of intensifying cooperation between Egypt and the European Union on Tuesday.

Minister of Petroleum Tariq al-Mulla and the European Union Ambassador in Cairo attended the meeting.

Sisi stressed that the government has adopted a comprehensive and ambitious strategy to develop the electricity system in full, which qualifies it to become a bridge for the transfer of electricity between the countries of the region and EU countries in the framework of the projects of electric linkage.

Sisi said that Egypt was one of the first countries that expressed their willingness to cooperate with neighboring countries in the field of gas, in light of its established infrastructure of liquefaction plants, ports and gas pipeline networks, supported by distinguished political relations with the various countries of the region, as well as enjoying political and security stability stemming from a strong popular will.

Sisi expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the existing cooperation with the EU in several fields, and the importance it attaches to its strategic relationship with the EU and its aspiration to cooperate with it in the field of energy.

Commissioner Arias Canete said that the EU and Egypt are strategic partners in energy, saying potential for even closer energy cooperation between the EU and Egypt is enormous.

“I hope this visit will herald a new phase of closer and more intense relations amongst us. Egypt can lead the way of the clean energy transition in the Eastern Mediterranean and thus contribute to the Paris climate goals and the worldwide de-carbonizsation effort,” Canete said.

Likewise, Egypt is becoming an upcoming important gas and electricity hub that can help provide energy security for the EU and for the entire region, he said, adding that there is much to gain in terms of access to new sources of energy and market opportunities, for European and Egyptian citizens and businesses alike.

He added that the EU stands ready to support Egypt in its energy market reforms and to boost sustainable energy investment.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Egypt to be a bridge for electricity between the region and EU: Sisi