Written by: Hana Sherif El-Badry

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, a seminar was held at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University titled "Egypt and the European Union: A Journey of Extended Economic and Political Relations." The discussion was moderated by Professor Dr. Mamdouh Ismail, Professor in the Public Administration Department and Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs at the Faculty. The event hosted Ambassador Raouf Saad, former Senior Assistant Foreign Minister and former Ambassador of Egypt to Brussels and Moscow. The seminar was attended by a distinguished group of professors and students interested in the topic, including Professor Dr. Samiha Fawzy, Emeritus Professor of Economics and former Minister of Trade and Industry, Professor Dr. Atiyah Hussein Afandi, Emeritus Professor of Public Administration and former Head of the Public Administration Department, and His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Khair El-Din Abdel Latif, former Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt.

Professor Mamdouh Ismail opened the seminar by welcoming the attendees and highlighting the leading role of the faculty in fostering community development, supporting informed decision-making, and contributing to nation-building. He emphasized the vision of the Faculty to become one of the best fourth-generation universities in education, scientific research, and community service, following the model of prestigious international universities. He introduced Ambassador Raouf Saad as the ideal speaker on Egypt-EU relations, given his current role as Head of the National Office for the Implementation of the Egypt-EU Association Agreement.

Ambassador Raouf Saad began his talk by noting that the current period is one of the most critical in history, with global upheavals resembling a third world war. He suggested that the United Nations is nearing a state of paralysis similar to that of the League of Nations before World War II. He also commented that the European Union is at a crossroads that could either strengthen or fragment it.

He then discussed Egypt-EU relations, referring to the European Neighborhood Policy and emphasizing the importance of stability and security in neighboring regions. He pointed out shared challenges such as illegal migration and terrorism, stressing the need to balance European principles with political realities and internal pressures highlighting Egypt’s strategic role as a partner.

Moving on, he recalled the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference, where the EU proposed the Suez Canal Area Development Project as part of its vision for regional economic peace. Ambassador Saad, who headed Egypt’s delegation to the Regional Cooperation Working Group and served as Regional Negotiator for establishing the Middle East Bank, advocated strongly for linking economic development to national sovereignty due to its geopolitical and economic significance. He explained that the geographical link between the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean is unique globally, and proper development of this area could boost Egypt’s economy by 20%. He emphasized the need for greater understanding of investment opportunities and challenges, suggesting a transformation in the region’s trade and navigation landscape. He described the Suez Canal Economic Zone as the EU’s "economic and trade lung," where European industries and services could relocate to serve the Gulf, East Africa, and South Asia.

The Ambassador noted that although official discussions about the Suez development project were postponed, European vision influenced Egypt’s independent development plans. He also spoke about the 1995 Barcelona Initiative, aimed at enhancing cooperation across the Mediterranean, highlighting Europe’s growing interest in infrastructure projects, particularly the Suez Canal Development Project due to its strategic location.

He explained how the initiative evolved into Association Agreements involving vertical agreements between the EU and Mediterranean countries, and horizontal agreements among southern and eastern nations, with the goal of forming the world’s largest free trade area. Although this goal was not fully achieved, trade agreements continued to flourish. Egypt-EU trade volume reached 37 billion euros, with notable growth in Egyptian exports.

He also touched upon the customs exemption period that lasted until 2019, noting that it failed to achieve its goal of helping Egypt build a car manufacturing industry between 2004 and 2019, rather than just assembling cars.

Regarding Egypt-EU relations post-January 25 Revolution, Ambassador Saad mentioned that the EU initially supported the revolution as a democratic reaction without fully understanding the surrounding circumstances. Despite initial tensions, the EU soon recognized Egypt’s vital historical and geographical role. The Ambassador himself played a significant role in easing tensions by engaging in strategic dialogues with the European Commission and European Council.

He then discussed major crises faced by the EU, starting with COVID-19, Brexit, and the ongoing Ukraine crisis, which heavily drained European treasuries. He criticized the U.S. military dominance over Europe via NATO, noting the tension between the current U.S. administration and EU countries, particularly regarding demands to increase NATO defense spending to 5%. He mentioned U.S. President Donald Trump inviting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to encourage non-member European countries to bear more of the defense burden. He predicted that the UK, often seen as the U.S.'s second face in the EU, might eventually rejoin the Union. Ambassador Saad highlighted Germany’s current economic crisis and the establishment of a 500 billion euro fund for defense and security infrastructure, predicting an uncertain future for Europe. Despite challenges, he stressed that the EU remains globally influential.

In concluding his talk, Ambassador Saad spoke about the era of climate change, warning that Egypt is among the countries most vulnerable to its impacts. This could affect sectors like the circular economy and thus influence international economic relations. The EU is a leading global actor in addressing climate change, making the "green transition" a cornerstone of its internal and external policies. He highlighted the "European Green Deal," launched in 2019, aiming for Europe to become the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050 by decarbonizing and promoting alternative energy sources. Ambassador Saad emphasized the importance of tracking developments in green hydrogen, as Egypt aspires to become a regional hub for clean energy, opening new avenues for cooperation with the EU.

The seminar concluded with an interactive Q&A session between the audience and Ambassador Saad, allowing students and professors to engage directly with the discussion points, making the event rich and dynamic.

The seminar "Egypt and the European Union: A Journey of Extended Economic and Political Relations" highlighted the intricate ties between the two sides amidst complex regional and international challenges. Through Ambassador Raouf Saad’s contributions, it became clear that the relationship is not just economic but a historical and strategic partnership that demands careful balancing of national interests and global developments.