Page 3 - issue7en

ELITE
Press Officer, Mr. Ayman El-Sherbiny gives an
Overview on EU-Egypt Cooperation Relations.
Erasmus Programme Manager, Ms. Ahlam Farouk
presents education opportunities & Erasmus
program.
Information Officer, Ms. Hanna LABDH explains
dialogue and cooperation in the Euro-
Mediterranean region:Union for the Mediterranean
(UfM)example.
ProgramManager, Mr. Ayman Ayad elaborates the
cooperation projects between Egypt and EU in
water and waste water reforms .
A crucial session given by the head of Political,
Press and Information Section, Ms. Anne
Koistinen on EU-Egypt bilateral political relation.
ELITE
Issue7: May.2019 Page | 2
FEPS Visits the
EU Mission
 Postgrad Vice-Dean, EuroMed Director, ELITE Head and a Class Of Political Science Senior
Students Formed The FEPS Delegation Visiting The Premises Of The EU Delegation In Cairo
HE Amb. Ivan Surkoš And Main Mission Staff Presented The Diverse Egypt-EU
Cooperation Aspects
Head of Delegation HE Amb. Ivan Surkoš shedding light on
Egypt-EU relations
From left : ELITE editor Farah Ezzeldin, Post-grad studies Vice-Dean Prof.Dr. Omneia Helmy, EuroMed Program director
Prof.Dr. Riham Bahi, ELITE Editor in chief Ramy Magdy, and ELITE Editors Mohamed Rostom and Caroline Kamal
Cairo : Ramy Magdy, Farah Ezzeldin and Caroline Kamal The next session was led by Mr. Ayman El-Sherbiny –Press
officer- summarizing the EU-Egypt cooperation relations
A delegation from FEPS (comprising FEPS Vice-dean smoothly. He stated that Egypt is a key partner with the EU as it
for postgraduate studies and scientific research Prof. Dr. Omenia is a neighbor for Europe, plus being a perfectly located country. Deputy Head of Delegation, Ms. Sandra De Waele
Helmy, Euro-Mediterranean Program director Prof.Dr. Riham The EU-Egyptian partnership is due to the association agreement gives an overview of the delegation work.
Bahi, ELITE editor in chief Ramy Magdy and a Class of political which was signed in 2001 and enforced in 2004. The association
science senior students enrolled into the course on comparative
foreign policy; led by Prof.Dr. Ayman Eldessouki) made a visit to agreement organizes a high-level meeting between the common
EU foreign minister and the Egyptian foreign minister.The EU
the premises of the EU delegation in Cairo The mission staff and Egypt are cooperating also within the investment field, since
welcomed FEPS political science students. The head of the EU funds ongoing projects in Egypt with 1.4 billion euros,
delegation HE Ambassaor. Ivan Surkos, started his talk with and concessional loans by 12 billion euros. Mr. Ayman
welcoming the students. Then, he talked about the role of the EU mentioned that the EU developed through the years, as it was
in Egypt. Briefly, he mentioned the partnership between both firstly announced in 9 may 1950 by Robert Shuman‟s declaration
sides, asserting the political and strategic aspects, describing which called for cooperation between Germany and France in the
Egypt as the key EU partner in the region. iron and steel field, thus, they won‟t compete anymore.
The ambassador referred to the common issues that He added that Egypt and the EU cooperate in doing
came to discussion between Egypt and the EU like climate diverse projects concerned with children, education, women,
change, and the issue of water scarcity facing Egypt nowadays water, besides energy. He continued by explaining one of the
and other issues that have come as priorities on the Egyptian projects between Egypt and the EU which is MATS project as it
agenda 2030. Mr. Surkos also mentioned the role of the EU in is an energy project at Borg Al-Arab to desalinate the sea water
supporting solar energy in Egypt. On the cultural level, he using solar energy. Mr. Ayman said that these projects are to
referred to a lot of projects that work on modernizing the assure the relations between both sides are stable in a region full
Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square as well as the restoration of of conflicts.
archeological sites like Al-Maredani mosque in Al-Darb Al-
Ahmar, one of the oldest mosques in Cairo. The ambassador Another session was held by Ms. Ahlam Farouk –
pointed out to the educational programs and technical trainings Erasmus program manager- to explain Erasmus projects. She
offered by the European Union in partnership with several started by explaining what is Erasmus and its origin. She
Egyptian institutions, headed by the Ministry of Higher mentioned that the EU is the best partner Egypt for the education
Education. projects. Ms. Ahlam elaborated the Erasmus+ project, claiming
that it started since 2014 making 7 to 8 separate projects.. After
Ms.Sandra de Waele, Deputy Head of Mission,
explained the mechanisms of action within the EU deleagtion, the that, she clarified the higher education process in Erasmus as they Trade Officer, Mr. Selim Hisham explains trade &
have international credit mobility that lasts from 3 to 12 months, economic relations engaging Egypt and the EU.
most important issues for the European Union and the Joint master degree, and Jean Monnet activities. Besides, she
mechanisms of coordination within the various institutions
explained the process of application.
concerned with the implementation of the EU-Egypt agreements.
Mr. Ayman Ayad –programme manager- spoke about
Mr. Selim Hisham, Trade Officer, spoke about the trade the water and water waste reforms cooperation between Egypt
agreements between Egypt and the European Union, which was and the EU, he added that the EU helps Egypt in the project
signed in 2001 and entered into force in 2004.Egypt has obtained management. In addition, he said that the EU organizes and make
customs exemptions on its agricultural exports to the EU, which awareness campaigns for saving water.
has facilitated the export of agricultural commodities to the EU
easily. The volume of European exports in Egypt is also very Finally, Ms. Hanna Labdh –information officer- spoke
large, amounting to 30% of the total volume of Egyptian exports, about Union for the Mediterranean (UFM) and explained its role,
which is not insignificant. He explained also The TDMEP “the besides how it works, talking about Med 4 Jobs which provide
program of development of local and commercial market” jobs across the countries of the UFM. She also clarified the EEAS
supported by the EU and which helps innovation in local traineeship programme and how to apply easily by using the
markets and trade relations with the EU.Finally, Mr. Selim website when there is an open call. As well as explaining that the
indicated to the challenges facing the Egyptian industry to reach traineeship program has two types paid, and not paid. In addition,
the required quality. the applicant must have less than 1 year work experience not
more, besides the duration of the traineeship is from 4 to 6
Dr. Heba Gaber, Regional Research and Innovation months.
Relations Officer, spoke about EU programs supporting scientific
research, spearheaded by the Horizon 2020 program, which The main engineers of the trip were Prof. Dr. Ayman El-
funded many Egyptian scientific research bodies such as the Dessouki assistant professor of political science who suggested
Academy of Scientific Research and the University of Zewail. the visit and Ms. Hanna Labdh who have taken El-Dessouki‟s
She pointed out that Egypt alone has participated in 37 projects, initiative into practical steps. As an idea the visit was a „field trip‟ Research and Innovation Regional Officer, Ms. Heba Gaber
but the field of scientific research in Egypt requires further work learning methodin “Comparative Foreign Policy” course. presents bilateral and regional research and innovation
for its development. According to the latest estimations the Professor Ayman El-Dessouki describes that field trips are a great relations between Egypt and the EU
number of the Egyptian researchers is up to 120 thousands which learning tool because they do provide opportunity for self-
is a huge number and requires more efforts in that field. This experiences and observations and self-long-lasting learning. This
program organizes many events through which it offers training will supplement the various theories and concepts acquired in the ENGINEERS OF THE VISIT
courses on the writing of scientific research and the formulation. classroom for a simultaneous understanding and application.
Field trips are also very helpful to provide a future professional
On the other side, Ms. Anne Koistinen -Head of political and vocational direction.
press and information section- who started working in Egypt
since 2016, explained briefly the EU external action services The main objective of the trip, El-Dessouki clears, is to
(EEAS)which the EU delegation is one of its segments. She give students further insight into the way in which the European
added that the EEAS includes the common foreign ministry of EU Union (EU) is constructed as an international actor. Students will
that was founded in 2011, as well as, it is now headed by the closely examine the governance of the EU Common Foreign and
higher representative Federica Mogherini till November 2019. Security Policy (CFSP), and the relations between EU and
Ms. Koistinen mentioned that the greatest highlight of the year national foreign policy of Member States. More important,
was the LAS-EU summit in Sharm Al-Sheikh. She also clarified student would like to explore the aspects of the EU foreign policy
the role of the EU delegations as it have 140 delegations toward the Arab world and Egypt.
implementing the EU global strategy with its partners. In
addition, the delegation acts as an embassy and has its own On her part Ms. Hanna expressed that organizing the visit
diplomatic agenda, represents the union and its policy, manages represents a part of her vision to make the EU delegation more
EU projects, and builds partnerships between EU and the host engaged with the Egyptian youth. She believes that a more
countries. Ms. Koistinen assured that Egypt is very important influential role for any diplomatic mission cannot be attained Prof. Dr. Ayman El- Ms. Hanna Labdh
country regionally and internationally as it is well connected to adequately without engagement with the communities of the Dessouki
Africa and the Mediterranean region. She ended her speech by receiving state. Assistant Professor of EU Delegation
clarifying that the EU investment into stability is rooted in human International Relations, information officer
rights and depends on the participation of the people. FEPS
Issue7: May .2019 Page | 2