Abou El-Enein:
- Egypt played a pivotal role in reaching the agreement to end the war in Gaza, yet the humanitarian situation remains catastrophic.
- The Palestinian cause is the core of the conflict in the Middle East, and there can be no peace without the establishment of an independent Palestinian State.
- We renew our call for the full implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement and the immediate commencement of Gaza’s reconstruction.
- We reaffirm our categorical rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people or eliminate their cause.
- There can be no prosperity in the Mediterranean without justice, no security without hope, and no peace without an independent Palestinian State.
- I will leave the Presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, but I will never leave its mission.
- We call for addressing a letter to the United Nations in support of UNRWA, enabling it to continue fulfilling its humanitarian mission in Palestine.
- Egypt has always believed that a just peace is the true guarantee of security, and that development is the other side of stability.
- Egypt’s water security is an existential issue that is not subject to compromise, and we reject unilateral measures in the Nile Basin.
- Egypt continues to play its role as a bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and as a regional hub for trade, energy, and investment.
- The recent war involving Iran has demonstrated that any military escalation carries risks extending far beyond the parties directly involved.
- I call for launching a new phase of Euro-Mediterranean economic integration and strengthening investment and clean energy cooperation.
- Cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean has become a strategic necessity rather than merely a political choice.
- We reaffirm our full support for Libya’s unity and sovereignty and our commitment to the Libyan-led political solution as the only way out of the crisis.
- We call for respecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied Syrian territories.
- We reject any recognition of the so-called “Somaliland” in order to safeguard regional security.
- Our region does not need new rounds of war; it needs a genuine political will to achieve a just peace.
Mohamed Abou El-Enein, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM), delivered a message of peace to the world from the Egyptian House of Representatives, affirming that there can be no lasting peace without justice for the Palestinian people. He stressed that development can only flourish in an environment of peace and that experience has proven that wars do not create lasting security. He further emphasized that the Palestinian cause remains the core of the conflict in the Middle East, declaring that there can be no prosperity in the Mediterranean without justice, no security without hope, and no peace without an independent Palestinian State.
He highlighted that Egypt, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, played a responsible and pivotal role in reaching the agreement to end the war in Gaza. He renewed the call for the full implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement and the immediate launch of Gaza’s reconstruction. Abou El-Enein also affirmed that although he would be leaving his position as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, he would never abandon its mission, while calling for the launch of a new phase of Euro-Mediterranean economic integration and enhanced investment in clean energy.
These remarks were made during the Tenth Summit of Speakers of the Parliaments of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Nineteenth Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, hosted over the past two days by the Egyptian House of Representatives in the New Administrative Capital under the chairmanship of Mohamed Abou El-Enein, marking the conclusion of Egypt’s presidency of the Assembly. The meetings were attended by Speakers of Parliament and representatives from 43 Euro-Mediterranean countries, in addition to members of the European Parliament participating in the Assembly.
Egypt: A Force for Peace and a Bridge for Dialogue
Abou El-Enein stressed that throughout its history, Egypt has chosen to be a force for peace, a bridge for dialogue, and a trusted partner in promoting stability. Building on the political stability, economic reforms, and unprecedented infrastructure development it has achieved, Egypt has become a regional hub for trade, energy, logistics, and investment.
The Strategic Command Headquarters Reflects Egypt’s Vision
He noted that the Summit coincided with the inauguration of the Strategic Command Headquarters of the Egyptian State, describing it as a new achievement that reflects the State’s vision that nation-building begins with strong institutions capable of safeguarding national security while simultaneously advancing the path of development.
Cooperation Between the Two Shores of the Mediterranean Is a Strategic Necessity
During his address, Abou El-Enein emphasized that the world is undergoing unprecedented political, economic, and technological transformations, making enhanced cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean a strategic necessity rather than merely a political option. Such cooperation, he noted, is essential to addressing shared challenges in the fields of security, energy, migration, climate change, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.
Achievements of Egypt’s Presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly
Abou El-Enein reviewed the achievements of Egypt’s presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean since June 2025, stating that the Egyptian presidency had worked to transform the Assembly into an effective platform for dialogue, strengthen economic integration, empower youth and women, and expand the Assembly’s international role.
He recalled that Cairo hosted the Summit of Speakers of Parliament and the Economic Forum last November on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration, during which participants renewed their commitment to the Barcelona Process and welcomed the New Pact for the Mediterranean, which represents a genuine opportunity to transform challenges into development opportunities through more than 100 projects and initiatives aimed at promoting investment, innovation, and economic growth.
He stressed that the responsibility of parliaments extends beyond supporting the Pact to providing the legislative environment necessary to translate its initiatives into tangible projects that positively impact citizens’ lives.
Abou El-Enein also reviewed the international activities undertaken during Egypt’s presidency, including active participation in meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the African Union, the United Nations General Assembly, and the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question, emphasizing that the Assembly consistently advocated de-escalation, respect for international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
An Ambitious Vision for the Future of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
Abou El-Enein stressed that three decades after the Barcelona Declaration, today’s world has fundamentally changed, making it necessary to formulate a more ambitious vision based on genuine integration rather than traditional cooperation, and on building a shared future founded on sustainable development and mutual interdependence.
He stated:
“The next phase requires greater investment, joint production, knowledge transfer, technology localization, the development of regional value chains, and increased investment in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, the blue economy, smart agriculture, digital infrastructure, transport corridors, and logistics connectivity, transforming the Mediterranean into one of the world’s leading centres of growth and innovation.”
He affirmed that the Euro-Mediterranean region possesses all the necessary assets to realize this vision. However, translating this potential into reality requires mobilizing public and private investment and establishing genuine partnerships among governments, parliaments, the private sector, and international and regional financial institutions. He stressed that global competition waits for no one and that the regions investing today in knowledge, innovation, and integration will lead tomorrow’s economy.
The Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement and Ending the War in Gaza
Abou El-Enein pointed out that Egypt, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and in cooperation with its partners, played a responsible and pivotal role in reaching the agreement to end the war in Gaza. Egypt also hosted the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, attended by more than 30 Heads of State.
However, he noted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, with continued bombardment, the killing of women and children, the expansion of illegal settlements, escalating settler violence in the West Bank, and the enactment of legislation permitting the execution of Palestinian prisoners. Such practices, he stressed, will not bring security but will instead destroy trust and undermine the prospects for peace.
A Renewed Call for the Full Implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement
Abou El-Enein renewed the call for the full implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement, ensuring the safe and sustained flow of humanitarian assistance, the immediate commencement of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, the complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, and the launch of a serious political process based on international legitimacy and the two-State solution, leading to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace and security alongside Israel.
A Just Peace Is the True Guarantee of Security and Stability
Abou El-Enein stated:
“From Egypt, which has always believed that a just peace is the true guarantee of security, and that development is the other side of stability, we send a message to the peoples of the Mediterranean and to the international community that we have chosen wisdom over confrontation and cooperation over conflict.”
I Am Leaving the Presidency, But I Will Never Leave Its Mission
Concluding Egypt’s presidency of the Assembly, Abou El-Enein stressed that parliamentary diplomacy has become more important than ever, and that parliaments are capable of serving as a voice of wisdom, a bridge for understanding, and a partner in advancing peace and development.
He said:
“I am leaving the Presidency of the Assembly, but I will never leave its mission. I will remain committed to it and continue to defend it.”
He added:
“The history of the Mediterranean has taught us that civilizations flourished only when cooperation prevailed over conflict, dialogue over division, and openness over isolation. I therefore call for working together so that the Mediterranean becomes a bridge uniting its peoples, a driving force for their prosperity, and a model of cooperation that the world needs today, because the future of the Mediterranean is the future of all its peoples.”
Broad Recognition of Egypt’s Role
Following Abou El-Enein’s address, the closing session witnessed broad praise from Speakers of Parliament and participating delegations for Egypt’s role, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in advancing the cause of peace, promoting stability in the Middle East, and fostering a more integrated Euro-Mediterranean partnership in the economic and development fields.
Participants also commended Egypt’s presidency of the Assembly for strengthening parliamentary dialogue between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, enhancing the Assembly’s institutional work, expanding its regional and international profile, and launching initiatives to promote dialogue and cooperation. They affirmed that Cairo had successfully led the Assembly through a period marked by complex regional and international challenges.
The Summit and the Plenary Session concluded with prolonged applause from the participating parliamentary delegations following the announcement of the end of Egypt’s presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean and the formal handover of the Presidency to the European Parliament, in a scene that reflected broad appreciation for Egypt’s role in promoting peace, development, and cooperation across the Mediterranean region.
