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Partners in the climate and energy crisis: Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Photo: CLEMENS BILAN / EPA
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) have exchanged plans for their countries to work more closely together on energy supplies.
“The gas production in the east of the Mediterranean could be delivered and exported to Europe through Egypt,” said Sisi at the joint press conference as part of the Petersberg climate dialogue currently taking place in Berlin.
The high energy prices also put a strain on the Egyptian population, Sisi said.
He blamed neither the Russian leadership in Moscow nor the Western sanctions against Russia for the price increase.
Closer hydrogen cooperation planned
Scholz stated that he had spoken to Sisi about long-term projects and renewable energies, but also about "exploiting and expanding the diversification options for supplying gas to Europe and Germany in the very short term".
Egypt and Germany had also agreed "that we want to work very closely together, especially in the field of hydrogen".
For the transformation of industrialized countries like Germany, hydrogen is "of central importance in order to promote CO2-neutral economic and industrial development," Scholz added: "We will produce some of the hydrogen that we need for this ourselves, but only one import a large part from other countries.« Scholz did not provide any further information.
In June, the EU had already signed an agreement on gas supplies with Egypt and Israel.
According to the EU Commission, the agreement provides for natural gas to be transported from Israel to Egypt, liquefied there and then delivered to Europe.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also announced a hydrogen partnership between Egypt and the EU during her visit to Cairo.
Praise for the planned railway network, little criticism of human rights
Scholz found words of praise for Sisi in view of the planned modernization of the Egyptian rail network, which connects people and at the same time protects the climate.
The German Siemens group is significantly involved in the project.
Scholz and Sisi confirmed that the talks also dealt with the topic of human rights.
Scholz did not comment on details, such as political prisoners in Egypt.
Addressing his guest, he said: "Resolute steps towards more participation and the rule of law help to improve the situation and to strengthen and stabilize the economy in the long term." Sisi addressed the issue of human rights and emphasized that it was a strategy to guarantee compliance.
People have a right to lead a dignified life.
In an open letter to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, 21 Egyptian, regional and international organizations drew attention to the serious violations of freedom of the press, expression and assembly in Egypt in the run-up to the Petersberg Climate Dialogue.
The signatories - which include Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International - had asked Baerbock in the letter to demand that Sisi release all those "arbitrarily" imprisoned.
Representatives from 40 countries take part in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue.
They want to prepare for the COP27 world climate conference, which will take place in November in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
atb/dpa/AFP