Egyptian Ambassador to the European Union, Mr. Ahmed Abu Zeid, was received today, September 8, 2026, in Brussels by PASOK MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Committees on Budgets, Foreign Affairs, and Relations with the United States, Nikolas Farantouris, with the meeting focused on relations between Egypt and the European Union, as well as the issue that has arisen regarding the status of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai.
The meeting took place in an excellent atmosphere, following Mr. Farantouris’s previous contacts with Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, in January 2025, and within the framework of the friendly and strategic relations between Egypt and the European Union.
During the meeting, Mr. Farantouris reiterated that Egypt is an important partner for Europe and a key country for ensuring regional stability and energy security, managing migration, and safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He specifically referenced Egypt’s role in protecting global cultural heritage. In this context, he raised the issue of the status of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, the oldest continuously operating Christian monastery in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a place of worship of particular significance to the entire Christian world.
The PASOK MEP underlined the importance of safeguarding not only the historical and religious character of the Monastery, but also its property status and the rights arising from its centuries-long religious and institutional presence.
At the same time, he reiterated that the issue should be addressed in a way that strengthens rather than weakens the longstanding friendship and strategic relationship between Egypt and the European Union, as well as between Egypt and Greece.
Finally, Nikolas Farantouris and Ahmed Abu Zeid discussed the Greek MEP’s upcoming visit to Egypt and Sinai, within the framework of a constructive dialogue.
