President El-Sisi’s Speech at Press Conference Following the EU-Egypt Summit

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”

Mr. António Costa,

President of the European Council,

Ms. Ursula von der Leyen,

President of the European Commission

Honorable attendees,

Allow me to extend my sincere gratitude and profound appreciation to the European side, for the gracious reception and generous hospitality since my arrival in Brussels.

I stand before you today, a guest of the European Union institutions, only months into the second year of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Egypt and the European Union. We convene now to capture the full potential of this elevated relationship and drive its progression with renewed vigor. This collaboration is essential to securing the interests and aspirations of our peoples and to effectively addressing the formidable challenges facing our common geographical sphere and, indeed, the entire world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The EU-Egypt Summit today is of particular significance for several reasons:

First, the summit is the first ever to be convened by the European Union with one of its partners from the Southern Mediterranean or Middle Eastern countries.

Second, this summit is convened at a critical juncture of profound regional and international importance and complexity. It thus serves as a definitive testament to the imperative placed by both the Egyptian and European sides on solidifying their Strategic Partnership and on ensuring optimal mutual dividends. This encompasses both intensive consultation and coordination on the shared political, security, and economic challenges across the Mediterranean, and the pursuit of new prospects to expand and boost economic and developmental cooperation between Egypt and the European Union Member States.

Mr. Costa,

Ms. von der Leyen,

The relationship between Egypt and the European Union Member States is not a recent convergence; rather, its provenance is rooted profoundly in history and geography, established upon shared strategic interests. The European Union is Egypt’s foremost trading partner and the principal supporter of its sustainable development and modernization programs. Egypt, in turn, serves as a secure gateway and essential bridge for Europe, connecting it with the broader Arab and African worlds. Furthermore, Egypt is a credible and highly reliable partner positioned to absorb European investments and contribute to European production chains. This role is underscored by the current climate, in which the global economy is grappling with significant factors of tension and instability.

Against this backdrop, our meetings today dedicated particular attention to the imperative of promoting the existing cooperation in the economic and investment fields. This focus centered, in particular, on investing in human capital, considering it one of the cornerstones of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in addition to the necessity of exploring new opportunities and domains for collaboration.

Esteemed attendees,

Today's summit provided an opportunity to exchange views on a multitude of challenges and crises currently afflicting the Middle East and the European continent. I outlined for the European leaders the sustained and intensive efforts undertaken by Egypt, deriving from its historical responsibility and regional role, with the central objective of securing a durable and comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. These endeavors were anchored in the Peace Plan put forth by US President Donald Trump, leading us to the historic moment of signing the 'President Trump Declaration for Sustained Peace and Prosperity' in Sharm El Sheikh on October 13th of this month. This landmark event saw the participation of the President of the European Council, Mr. António Costa, alongside a substantial number of leaders from the European Union Member States and the wider global community.

I would like to seize this opportunity to affirm that what has been achieved is a significant accomplishment. However, it is simultaneously just a preliminary step within a much broader, ongoing process, aimed at creating conducive conditions for the resumption of a just and comprehensive peace process, based on the Two-State Solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, along the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Perhaps the first decisive step in this process must be the immediate commencement of reconstruction efforts. From this platform, I am pleased to reaffirm our expectation for the robust and active participation of the European Union Member States and institutions in the “Conference on Early Recovery, Reconstruction, and Development in Gaza”, which we intend to host during the second half of November 2025.

Distinguished Attendees,

Our discussions also addressed the situation in Sudan. I assured the European leaders of Egypt's firm determination, grounded in the historic bonds and shared destiny, to continue its diligent efforts to secure a ceasefire. We look forward to collaborating with the Quartet and coordinating with the European Union to declare an immediate and comprehensive humanitarian truce, ending the sustained suffering of the Sudanese people.

Furthermore, I look forward to working with the European side to safeguard Sudan's unity and the integrity of its state institutions, thereby preventing its descent into chaos or fragmentation.

We also deliberated on the situation in Libya. In this regard, I restated Egypt’s position, which is resolutely aimed at achieving enduring stability in Libya, viewing it as a cornerstone for the security of the entire Mediterranean region. In this regard, I underscored Egypt’s full support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive political settlement, guided and executed purely by Libyans. Such a settlement must end the current division, restore the unification of state institutions, and create a conducive environment for holding free elections, genuinely reflecting the will of the Libyan people.

I also reasserted the urgent imperative of withdrawing all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libyan territories, in preservation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The issue of irregular migration constituted another key subject in our discussions today. It represents a defining challenge confronting both shores of the Mediterranean, which can only be effectively addressed through a comprehensive methodology tackling its fundamental root causes, rather than its symptoms alone.

From this standpoint, Egypt firmly maintains that the enduring solution lies in fostering sustainable economic and social development, ensuring political and security stability, and cultivating sufficient avenues for both job creation and vocational training. This approach is essential to paving the way for a durable resolution of the issue.

In this regard, I must underscore Egypt’s pivotal role in successfully curtailing irregular migration, demonstrably preventing the departure of any vessel carrying irregular migrants from its shores toward Europe since September 2016. Simultaneously, Egypt is currently hosting over 9.5 million foreign nationals, who have sought refuge from crises in their home countries. These guests receive the same treatment and access to the same services offered to Egyptian citizens.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to express Egypt’s deep appreciation for the signing today of the “Agreement on Egypt's accession to the 'Horizon Europe' Program”, which we hope will mark a new impetus for bolstering cooperation between Egypt and the European Union across the sectors of higher education, scientific research, and innovation. This step is a substantive investment in the prosperity of both current and future generations, while simultaneously offering a vital opportunity to forge enduring and foundational bridges of exchange between the peoples of the Northern and Southern Mediterranean.

Mr. Costa,

Ms. von der Leyen,

The friendly peoples of Europe,

We are united by an extensive range of historical ties and shared interests. What we strive for is a more stable and prosperous future for our succeeding generations; a future grounded upon justice, peace, integration, and mutual respect, and built upon a balanced partnership that realizes the interests of both parties.

Therefore, I call upon you to ensure that this summit serves as a defining mandate for our advancement into a new phase of rigorous joint action. This collaboration must significantly foster peace and development, and establish the Egyptian-European relationship as an exemplary model of cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

Thank you