Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting held today in Luxembourg.The Ministers discussed EU-Egypt relations, the latest developments in the Horn of Africa, as well as the EU's Strategic Cooperation with the Arab Gulf countries. The impact of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine was also an important topic of discussion, with ministers focusing on the food crisis and its geopolitical implications. In addition, the Foreign Ministers attended an informal working lunch in the presence of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. During his stay in Luxembourg, Mr. Kasoulides participated on Sunday evening in the 9th EU-Egypt Association Council, where the importance the EU attaches to strategic cooperation with the country was confirmed.
Speaking during the discussion on Ukraine, the Foreign Minister stressed that the ongoing Russian invasion has created an unprecedented situation with serious spill-over effects, the shocks of which are being felt far beyond the country's borders, touching the daily lives of ordinary people worldwide. The food crisis is a huge challenge for the EU, which through a pragmatic approach must take initiatives, starting of course first in our neighbourhood. In this context, he made special reference to Egypt, a key country, he said, for the stability of the wider region. Given that 90% of Egypt's grain imports come from Russia and Ukraine, the impact of the war in Egypt is undoubtedly huge, he said, noting that for a country like Egypt with a population of 100 million people, the issue of ensuring food sufficiency is an essential element for social stability in the country.
The Foreign Minister also referred to the prospect of Ukraine's accession to the EU, reiterating the need to ensure unity in the EU. Cyprus, he noted, is ready to support the granting of candidate country status to Ukraine provided that a meritocratic approach is followed, without making promises that we cannot keep.
In his remarks on Egypt, Mr Kasoulides stressed that Cyprus, as a member state integrally integrated in the Eastern Mediterranean region, supports the strategic strengthening of the EU's relations with Egypt. In this context, he highlighted the importance of strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with Egypt, a pillar partner for the promotion of security, peace and stability in the region. Mr. Kasoulides also highlighted Egypt's role in energy diversification and interconnectivity aspects, welcoming the signing of the EU-Egypt-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, which, he said, is an important step towards the realization of the objective of creating a reliable alternative energy corridor in the Eastern Mediterranean region. In this context, Mr.Kasoulides pointed out, the initiatives undertaken by Cyprus through the trilateral partnerships it is developing and its participation in the East Mediterranean Gas Forum ("East Mediterranean Gas Forum - EMGF") are also part of this. Mr.Kasoulides made special reference to Egypt's role in the migration issue and the issue of tackling climate change in view of the COP27 Summit that Egypt will host in November.
In the light of the dynamics of the EU's institutional dialogue in the region, Mr. Kasoulides reiterated Cyprus' position on the importance of convening the EU-Israel Association Council in the near future.
(MΦ/EC)
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