Europe Day 2024

by Ambassador Christian Berger

Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt

Excellencies, ministers, governors, members of parliament, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends.

A very warm welcome to Europe Day 2024, أهلا و سهلا بكم في اليوم الأوروبي.  On 9 May we reflect on how we can build on our achievements but also on how to safeguard and expand our security and prosperity both at home and with our partners around the world. 

It all began with the Declaration of French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman in 1950, just five years and one day after WWII and after a millennium of wars and horrors across the continent.  The message was clear: enough is enough, but also that it would not be easy and it would take time, trust and cooperation. 

This month, the European Union marks the 20th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement.  On 1 May 2004, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the EU.   In the years since and with Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia following, nearly 450 million Europeans have enjoyed equal rights, expanded freedom of movement and stronger economies. 

The past year saw the continuation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, but also new conflicts in the immediate neighbourhood of our friend and partner Egypt: in Sudan and the Gaza Strip.  

The world is much more fragmented, where rules are frequently ignored.   There is more polarity, and less multilateralism.  Dependencies are exploited, basic commodities like food, water and medicine have become weapons. 

There is now more confrontation and less cooperation.  The EU-Egypt relationship is one positive exception. Cooperation has increased and is on a strong upward trajectory. We signed the Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership Agreement in March and have laid out areas of reinforced cooperation based on the values of equity and on mutual respect and trust. 

On political relations we will enhance cooperation in the face of regional and international challenges.  The Gaza war is a key priority.  As Mr Borrell recently said ‘we have to make everybody understand that there is not a military solution.  We need to provide a better one.  Egypt and the EU agree that this ought to be the two-state solution, not the starting point for an endless process but the endgame.  But first, we must end the suffering in Gaza.  This requires a sustainable ceasefire, the release of all hostages and full, unhindered access for humanitarian assistance.  This is the goal of the mediation efforts of Egypt and others, which the EU fully supports.

Egypt and the EU will continue to work on our commitments to further promote democracy, fundamental freedoms, and human rights, gender equality and equal opportunities.

On economic stability, investment and trade, the European Union supports Egypt's 2030 Development Agenda to secure long-term macro-economic stability and sustainable economic growth.  We will hold an investment conference to bring more European companies to Egypt and enhance cooperation to unleash the full potential of our Free Trade Agreement. 

We will broaden further our cooperation on water issues on the basis of the Joint Declaration on the EU-Egypt water partnership signed at COP 28. We fully recognise Egypt's heavy reliance on the Nile River and reiterate our support to Egypt's water security and the compliance with international law. 

We will adopt a holistic approach to migration and mobility based on the principles of partnership, shared responsibility and burden sharing. 

Perhaps the most important chapter in our enhanced cooperation will be on human capital development through training, education, research and scientific cooperation. 

EU-Egypt cooperation and relations have reached a new level and I sincerely hope that on the occasion of next year’s Europe Day we will see clear and tangible results in a hopefully more peaceful world.

As this is in all likelihood my last Europe Day speech in Cairo, allow me to reflect a bit on the last four years which have shown a remarkable development in EU-Egypt relations, from numerous visits at the highest level, countless meetings between the EU institutions and the government, increased trade and investments, agreements on energy, water and hydrogen, co-chairmanships of international fora, the Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership Agreement, to opening the way to Egypt’s association to the world’s biggest research programme and to the European Investment Bank’s largest portfolio outside Europe.  This would not have happened without the dedication of the staff of the EU delegation, the cooperation and support of EU Member States embassies, close cooperation with our partners across the government and parliament, in all governorates, civil society organisations, the UN family, international financial institutions, the business world and the media.  My warmest thanks to you all. 

Happy Europe Day 2024!