Egypt & EU: Accord close on drinking water, drainage services

Egypt and the European Union plan to sign a new agreement to support the Egyptian infrastructure programs and improve services offered to the public in the drinking water and sanitary drainage sectors, Housing, Public Utilities and Urban Development Minister Ahmed el-Maghrabi said on Thursday.

The EU has already extended to Egypt an 80 million euros grant to overhaul the drinking water sector, he said at a meeting with new EU ambassador to Egypt Marc Franco. He discussed with the ambassador cooperation projects and agreements between the two sides and agreed on holding a workshop shortly to be attended by representatives of donor countries and Egyptian officials to probe cooperation prospects.