Hapi_ Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Expatriates, received on Monday Ambassador Fadi Hajali, Acting Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
Ambassador Nader Zaki, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the meeting featured a discussion on ways to revitalize cooperation among the Union's member states, as an umbrella for cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
Minister Badr Abdelatty highlighted the importance of encouraging member states to establish more joint projects, expressing readiness for further Egyptian engagement, and pointing out the potential to enhance cooperation among the Union's countries in the fields of energy, water studies, and technological solutions.
Minister Badr Abdelatty also welcomed the hosting of the UfM Economic Forum on October 20, 2026, in Cairo, particularly as the forum will focus on discussing ways to enhance the role of the private sector as a primary driver of sustainable economic development and growth in the region.
The Minister stressed that convening the forum comes at a critical juncture for the region, amid unprecedented economic, security, and environmental challenges, which necessitates that the Union's member states intensify joint efforts as a fundamental pillar to address these challenges and mitigate their negative repercussions on its countries.
The meeting addressed regional developments and efforts to restore calm and stability in the region, where the Foreign Minister emphasized that the Palestinian issue remains the core of the conflict in the region, noting the necessity for the international community to assume its responsibilities to address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and ensure unrestricted access to aid.
The meeting also touched upon regional updates and efforts aimed at containing tensions and de-escalation, especially given that the challenges facing the region cast a shadow over the peoples of both shores of the Mediterranean.
