The Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi met, in Cairo on 25 October 2021, with the leadership of the MedAlliance, ASCAME president Ahmed El Wakil, BUSINESSMED Vice Chairman Tarek Tawfik and CEEBA Secretary General and EBSOMED Chair Dr. Alaa Ezz, where the role of the MedAlliance in bridging the Mediterranean and its revival plan were presented along with its EU EBSOMED project and the important 16 ENI CBC MED projects aiming at bridging the Mediterranean, creating jobs, transferring technologies and novel management practices, and supporting SMEs, start-ups and innovations.

It was stressing upon the importance of expanding the ENI CBC Med Programme and supporting  Trilateral cooperation between EU and Mediterranean companies aiming at Africa with an EBSOMED like instruments augmented by guarantees and soft loans.

Commissioner Várhelyi highlighted that the European Union will work with the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support Mediterranean efforts to combat climate change, protect the environment, ensure sustainable food systems, and support small and medium enterprises, he added that the EU has allocated € 7 billion for the Southern Neighbourhood for the next six years.

The meeting was attended by the EU ambassador to Egypt Christian Berger, Head of Unit for North Africa Philip Mikos, head of cabinet László Kristóffy, and head of cooperation Ibrahim Lafia.

After the meeting Commissioner Várhelyi tweeted "Interesting discussion tonight with representatives of business community in Egypt about the potential of renewed partnership and the new Agenda for the Mediterranean and its Economic & Investment Plan".