Brussels – Europe and the Arabs

Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt’s Ambassador to the European Union and Belgium, participated in the European Transport and Mobility Conference. He took part in a session titled "Enhancing Multimodal Transport Connectivity Across the Mediterranean," alongside officials and representatives from European institutions, Southern Mediterranean nations, and the transport and logistics sector, as well as various experts and specialists.
According to a statement by the Egyptian Embassy in Brussels, Ambassador Abu Zeid outlined Egypt’s vision for strengthening connectivity and integration between the two shores of the Mediterranean. He emphasized that the region is undergoing a gradual shift toward an integrated connectivity system encompassing ports, maritime routes, railways, pipelines, electricity grids, and digital cables.
He explained that Egypt’s unique and distinguished geographical location should not be viewed merely as an inherent advantage, but rather in terms of how effectively it is utilized within an integrated vision and strategy based on "flexible multilateralism." This approach involves diversifying trade and energy routes and providing reliable alternatives capable of ensuring the continuity of flows during times of crisis.
The Ambassador highlighted key elements of Egypt’s vision in this context, which are grounded in the country's connectivity infrastructure—foremost among them the Suez Canal and seven integrated logistics corridors. He also pointed to projects aimed at upgrading approximately 10,000 kilometers of railway lines and constructing a high-speed electric train network spanning around 2,000 kilometers. He also highlighted the SUMED pipeline, the gas liquefaction plants in Idku and Damietta, and green hydrogen projects involving European companies, as well as electricity interconnection projects with Europe—such as the GREGY interconnection with Greece—and subsea cable projects, including Medusa.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid also addressed the Egyptian corridors linking the Mediterranean to the African continent, noting the opportunities they offer to enhance integration across trade, transport, and energy networks, and to link them with international economic initiatives and corridors.
He emphasized that the true value of any interconnection system becomes particularly evident during crises, pointing to the activation of alternative routes for transporting goods and energy between the Gulf, Egypt, and Europe during disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—alongside operating the SUMED pipeline at full capacity and providing storage facilities for Gulf producers.
In this context, the Ambassador stressed the importance of ensuring policy coherence within Europe and prior consultation with Southern Mediterranean nations regarding regulatory measures that could impact their infrastructure and competitiveness—specifically citing measures related to the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) and proposals to expand its scope.
He affirmed that Egypt is not seeking exemptions from European rules but rather advocating for policies to be formulated in consultation with Southern Mediterranean countries—rather than being imposed without prior dialogue—thereby ensuring greater alignment between European policy objectives and the realities and needs of partners on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. Ambassador Abu Zeid concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the partnership between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean should not aim to create two separate systems; rather, it should contribute to building a single, shared, and integrated system. This system should be founded on genuine consultation and joint investment, while strengthening the region's resilience in the face of crises and ensuring the continuity of trade, energy, and connectivity flows.
It is worth noting that the European Transport and Mobility Conference is the European Union’s flagship event in this field. It attracts over 3,000 participants from across Europe and neighboring countries, including ministers, Members of the European Parliament, high-level representatives from the European Commission and relevant agencies, as well as leaders from global financial institutions and the transport and mobility industry and private sector.