Egypt’s FM: Phase 2 of Gaza Ceasefire Must Begin Immediately

CAIRO – 3 March 2025: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement must begin immediately, stressing that a political process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state is essential for regional security and stability.

In a joint press conference with the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica on Sunday, Abdelatty revealed: “We (Egypt) aim to leverage the European role to pressure the Israeli side into fully implementing the ceasefire agreement in all its stages”.

Šuica’s visit is part of a series of high-level consultations led by her to shape the New Pact for the Mediterranean. According to a statement from the EU diplomatic delegation to Egypt, the Pact is being developed in close collaboration with Mediterranean partners and EU Member States. It aims to address shared challenges by promoting people-to-people relations, fostering economic growth, and strengthening regional security and stability.

Minister Abdelatty confirmed that the European Commission listened to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s vision for enhancing Egypt-EU relations. He noted that discussions with the European Commission focused on economic and trade cooperation and attracting more European companies to the Egyptian market.

The talks also touched on six strategic partnership axes between Egypt and the European Union, with the hope of holding the second Egyptian-European summit this year. The discussions included investment in specific priority sectors, particularly the energy sector and Egypt’s ambitious plans in this field.

Moreover, Abdelatty emphasized that the European Union greatly appreciates Egypt's efforts in combating illegal immigration and its continued work to strengthen cooperation with the EU in various areas. “We are working to consolidate cooperation with the European Union in scientific, technological, and cultural fields,” he added.

During the press conference, the Foreign Minister also informed the European Commission about the current deadlock in negotiations with Ethiopia regarding the Renaissance Dam. He stressed that there is a European commitment to supporting Egypt’s water security.