On the picture EC’s President Donald Tusk and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al Sissi.
19 September 2015, Cairo: The EU seeks to develop a particular close relationship to Egypt, its geographical neighbour, and to support its domestic and political reforms.
The relationship emphasises close cooperation on democratic reform, economic modernization, social reform, and migration issues.
In Cairo the President of the Council of the European Union Donald Tusk met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
For more information:
President of Egypt: www.presidency.gov.eg
Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
www.mfa.gov.eg/english/Pages/default.aspx
Mission of Egypt to the EU, Belgium and Luxemboug (HE Ambassador Ehab Mohamed Fawzi):
www.mfa.gov.eg/english/embassies/Egyptian_Embassy_Belgium/Pages/default.aspx
Mission of Egypt to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (HE Ambassador Taher Ahmed Farahat):
http://www.mfa.gov.eg/english/embassies/Egyptian_Embassy_Netherlands/Pages/default.aspx
During the summer President Tusk also paid a visit to Azerbaijan
On 22 July 2015, the President of the Council of the European Union, Donald Tusk, made the following in statement in Baku, during a high-level visit to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev:
“Azerbaijan is our reliable and strategic partner in the energy field, and we want to take this partnership further. One aim of the European energy union is to exclude the possibility of using gas as a threat. The conflict in Ukraine shows that such threats are still possible.
This is why the EU is dedicated to diversifying our supplies. And Azerbaijan is a main partner in this endeavour. Today, we agreed to stand united on developing the Southern Gas Corridor – a project which is in our common strategic interest – and to make sure it is completed on time, whatever our competitors do. For Europe, it is a question of diversifying supply. For Azerbaijan, it is a question of diversifying demand.
Azerbaijan has the potential to become one of the EU’s major commercial partners in the region. The EU is already Azerbaijan’s main trade partner and one of its most important investors. We will expand these commercial relations further in the coming years. I recalled that good governance and rule of law are important for creating a favourable commercial and investment climate. The EU stands ready to assist here, if needed.
Finally, we discussed the mobility of people and our strong common wish to facilitate travel and direct contacts between our peoples. I applaud the entry into force of the Visa Facilitation Agreement and the Readmission Agreement in the autumn of last year. This was an important step.”
Last year there were 70,000 visitors from Azerbaijan to the Schengen area. An increase by almost 20% from the year before. And one third of the visas we issue are now long-term multiple entry visas.
For more information:
Mission of Azerbaijan to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg headed by HE Ambassador Fuad İsgəndərov: www.azembassy.be
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Text and pictures by Council of the European Union
