Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the Prime Ministers of the three Benelux countries, Luc Frieden of Luxembourg, Dick Schoof of the Netherlands, and Bart De Wever of Belgium, during their visit to Cairo. The meeting took place in the presence of Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs, along with senior officials from both sides.
Presidential Spokesperson Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy stated that President El-Sisi welcomed his distinguished guests and expressed his appreciation for their participation in the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum. The President also recalled the warm reception he received in Brussels earlier this year during the first Egypt–European Union Summit, which he described as a milestone in strengthening Egypt’s partnership with Europe.
During the discussions, President El-Sisi emphasized the deep and growing relations between Egypt and the Benelux countries Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, highlighting the rapid progress achieved in various areas of cooperation. He expressed Egypt’s keen interest in attracting greater investment from the Benelux region, particularly in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and sustainable infrastructure projects that align with Egypt’s Vision 2030 for development and climate action.
Addressing migration issues, President El-Sisi noted that Egypt currently hosts around 9.5 million foreign residents without operating refugee camps. He stressed that Egypt treats all refugees and migrants as guests within society, ensuring their access to services such as education, healthcare, and employment. The President underlined that addressing irregular migration requires tackling its root causes—by supporting development efforts, resolving conflicts, and restoring stability in countries of origin.
On the regional front, President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to fully implementing the Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire agreement concerning the Gaza conflict. He called for an increase in humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and for the upcoming United Nations Security Council resolution to include clear obligations for all parties, ensuring its effectiveness and enforceability. Both sides agreed that a two-state solution remains the only viable path toward achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
The talks also covered the ongoing crisis in Sudan. The leaders underscored the urgent need for intensified international and regional efforts to end hostilities and restore stability. They agreed to enhance coordination between Egypt and the Benelux countries in supporting peace initiatives and humanitarian assistance for the Sudanese people.
Ambassador El-Shenawy added that the Prime Ministers of the Benelux countries affirmed Egypt’s role as a key strategic partner for their collective grouping and for Europe as a whole. They expressed their desire to expand cooperation with Cairo in vital fields such as renewable energy, trade, cultural exchange, and the recovery of smuggled Egyptian antiquities. The three leaders praised President El-Sisi’s leadership in consolidating Egypt’s internal stability and driving its ongoing development.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen cooperation in the field of water management, which President El-Sisi described as integral to Egypt’s national security. Egypt and the Benelux countries, particularly the Netherlands with its global expertise in water technology, agreed to expand technical and scientific collaboration on water conservation and sustainable resource management.
The visit reflected the mutual recognition of Egypt’s strategic role in promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa, and the Benelux nations’ growing interest in deepening their economic and political engagement with Cairo on issues of global importance.
