European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) Secretary-General Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam discussed collaboration in direction to bolster COVID-19 vaccine equity and at the same time empowering youth. Discussions were carried out during a meeting at Louvre Abu Dhabi, recently.

Before meeting at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Vice-President Schinas and Judge Abdelsalam visited construction site of the Abrahamic Family House - a first-of-its-kind interfaith complex that houses a church, mosque, synagogue, and educational center. The establishment is being overseen by the HCHF and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

"There is no better way to symbolise people coming together again after the coronavirus pandemic than the Abrahamic Family House," said Vice-President Schinas, serving as the Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life at the European Commission. He expressed his complete support for the initiative, calling it a "tangible manifestation of coexistence and tolerance, which are objectives shared by the European Commission and HCHF," and noted that he is "pleased with the fast pace of the project implementation and its progress on-the-ground." He also lauded the progress made by the UAE to promote human coexistence.

Judge Abdelsalam assured support of HCHF for the humanitarian efforts of the European Commission, especially promoting of COVID-19 vaccine equity by exporting over one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to countries in need.

"Fewer than four percent of the population on the continent of Africa is currently vaccinated according to recent estimates - this is a real challenge to human fraternity," said Judge Abdelsalam. "The international community must work together to find a solution to this issue." He praised the extraordinary efforts the UAE exerts to advance COVID-19 vaccine equity through distributing vaccines to poor and disadvantaged countries since the outbreak of the pandemic until now, noting "such efforts should be built upon."

Vice-President Schinas applauded European Union’s successful vaccine program and emphasized that it will not be complete until "everyone benefits – regardless of geography or economic status." "We will never be safe until everyone is safe," said Vice-President Schinas.

Judge Abdelsalam and Vice-President Schinas also discussed potential partnership of European Commission in HCHF’s Human Fraternity Youth Summit, scheduled to take place in 2022. It will bring together 100 young people from across nations for a transformative educational experience.

The European Commission’s recent announcement that 2022 will be the "European Year of Youth" seems in line with the Human Fraternity Youth Summit, said Schinas. "I hope the European Commission will support this important summit and believe we should cooperate to realise its objectives," Schinas added.

"These summits and programs give young people hope, which they may be lacking amid the current crises in our world, and also gives them encouragement and opportunities for development," said Abdelsalam.

WAM