Egypt offers energy partnership

Berlin (dpa) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has offered Germany and Europe increased cooperation to secure energy supplies. “Gas produced in the east of the Mediterranean could be transported and exported to Europe through Egypt,” al-Sisi said at a joint press conference with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Berlin on Monday, according to an official translation. “If we can play a role in mitigating the crisis, we will do it immediately.” Al-Sisi stressed that the high energy prices were also putting a strain on the Egyptian population.

Scholz said he had spoken with Al-Sisi about long-term joint projects in the energy sector, about hydrogen and the shift towards renewable energies, but also about “exploiting and expanding the scope for diversification when it comes to supplying gas to Europe and to Germany in the very short term”.

Scholz and Al-Sisi confirmed that they had also discussed the subject of human rights. Scholz said nothing about details, for example about political prisoners in Egypt. Addressing his guest, he said: “Resolute steps towards more participation and the rule of law will help to improve the situation and to strengthen and stabilise the economy in the long term.”