The meetings of the Bureau and the Enlarged Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM) were held in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from 11 to 13 September 2025, under the chairmanship of MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.
The sessions were inaugurated by Counsellor Dr. Hanafy El Gebaly, Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, who welcomed the participants and emphasized that the region is facing challenges threatening its collective security and stability. He affirmed that Egypt is keen to strengthen cooperation with all member states based on the principles of shared ownership and collective responsibility. He also highlighted the extensive parliamentary diplomacy experience of MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein, particularly in Mediterranean affairs, which led to his unanimous nomination by the Egyptian House of Representatives to preside over the PA-UfM.
The meetings were attended by the Assembly’s Vice-Presidents:
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Mr. Javier Maroto, Vice President of the Spanish Senate
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Ms. Antonella Sberna, Vice President of the European Parliament (Italy)
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Mr. Abdelmajid Fassi Fihri, Vice President of the Moroccan House of Representatives
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Ms. Isaura Leal, Member of the Spanish Congress of Deputies
As well as the Chairpersons of the five Standing Committees:
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Mr. Şamil Ayrim, Chair of the Committee on Economic, Financial, Social Affairs and Education (Turkey)
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Mr. Giuseppe Antoci, Chair of the Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights, Member of the European Parliament (Italy)
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Ms. Simona Petrucci, Chair of the Committee on Women’s Rights, Member of the Italian Senate
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Mr. Mohamed Zidouh, Chair of the Committee on Improving Quality of Life and Civil Society Exchanges and Culture, Member of the Moroccan House of Councillors
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Mr. Eduardo Teixeira, Chair of the Committee on Energy, Environment and Water, Member of the Portuguese Parliament
In his opening remarks, MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein welcomed the participants and commended the efforts of the previous Spanish, Moroccan, and European presidencies during the past three years.
He underscored the importance of enhancing economic integration between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, particularly in light of the EU’s forthcoming “New Mediterranean Charter.”
Abou El-Enein warned that the Middle East is facing grave risks, with the Palestinian people being killed, besieged, and starved to force them into displacement — a red line, as declared by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Arab leaders. He called for urgent international action based on deeds, not words, to end this unprecedented humanitarian tragedy, reaffirming that the only path to peace and stability is through the two-state solution.
He quoted President El-Sisi’s words:
“Peace is not born from bombardment, nor imposed by force, nor achieved through normalization rejected by the peoples. True peace is built on justice, fairness, and understanding. The continuation of war and occupation will never yield peace, but will fuel hatred, violence, and revenge. Enough of killing, hatred, occupation, and displacement.”
Abou El-Enein stressed that these words outline the roadmap to peace and the resumption of negotiations to implement the two-state solution — the foundation for cooperation and regional stability.
He noted that while 150 countries recognize the State of Palestine, a single veto in the UN Security Council prevents Palestine from gaining full UN membership, describing the situation as unacceptable and extremely dangerous.
He cautioned that Israel’s continued occupation and expansionism reveal a broader colonial project — “Greater Israel” — with official Israeli figures speaking openly of this vision, and the Knesset passing an illegal resolution to impose Israeli sovereignty over Gaza.
He reiterated that Egypt will never allow any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians toward Sinai, emphasizing that this is a national red line declared by President El-Sisi and supported by the entire Egyptian nation and state institutions.
Abou El-Enein called on the European Union, the European Parliament, and the international community to recognize the gravity of the current situation, adding that many more countries are expected to officially recognize the State of Palestine in the coming days.
He further condemned the Israeli attack on Qatar, the co-mediator with Egypt in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, describing it as a blatant political provocation and a violation of international law.
He reaffirmed that peace is achievable if there is genuine will, recalling that the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 offered normalization with Israel in exchange for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.
Abou El-Enein also highlighted Egypt’s enormous sacrifices for the Palestinian cause — including over 120,000 martyrs and billions in economic losses — with the current war costing Egypt $7 billion annually in Suez Canal revenues. He added that 70% of the humanitarian aid entering Gaza has come from Egypt, and over 18,500 injured Palestinians have been treated in Egyptian hospitals.
He emphasized that the root of the conflict lies not in the events of October 7, nor in Hamas, but in Israel’s decades-long occupation, denial of Palestinian statehood, and obstruction of peace efforts.
Abou El-Enein also refuted false claims that Egypt closed the Rafah crossing, explaining that it has remained open from the Egyptian side before and after October 7, solely for humanitarian purposes, but Israel has occupied and destroyed its Palestinian side multiple times to block aid deliveries.
He displayed a map of Gaza’s crossings, explaining that six crossings are controlled by Israel, while only Rafah connects Gaza with Egypt — and remains open from Egypt’s side. He revealed that 6,000 Egyptian trucks loaded with food supplies are ready to enter Gaza immediately if Israel lifts its restrictions.
The meetings concluded with broad appreciation for Egypt’s leadership and for MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein’s strong and principled stance in defense of peace, stability, and justice, with participants describing the final statement as the strongest ever issued by an international parliamentary organization.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean was established in 2003 (originally as the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly) and renamed in 2010. It brings together the parliaments of 43 countries and the European Parliament, representing 27 EU member states and 16 Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries, with a total of 280 members equally divided between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
