Egypt and the European Union hold their first summit in Brussels on Wednesday, with leaders prioritising economic support, migration management and efforts to stabilise Gaza and related research ties.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. Officials are expected to announce increased European economic assistance for Cairo and Egypt’s admission to the EU’s Horizon research programme.
The meeting forms part of a broader EU push to deepen ties with southern Mediterranean partners. The 27-nation bloc has sought new trade and security frameworks amid tensions linked to the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump and tighter export controls from China.
Egypt’s economy remains under strain from high inflation and external shocks. In 2024 Brussels announced a package worth €7.4 billion in loans, investments and targeted programmes to support Egypt’s macroeconomic stability. The measures followed years of domestic austerity, the impact of the pandemic, the consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and disruption linked to the Israel–Hamas war. Attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have diverted traffic away from the Suez Canal, cutting a key source of foreign-currency income for Egypt and increasing costs for shippers.
Gaza will be a central topic. El-Sissi has called for a two-state solution and, in remarks to European leaders last week, said that a United States proposal aimed at ending Israel’s two-year war in Gaza represented a “last chance” for peace. EU leaders are expected to discuss humanitarian access, ceasefire diplomacy, security at the Egypt–Gaza frontier and the wider spillover risks for Egypt and other neighbours.
Migration management remains a shared concern. Arrivals of asylum-seekers and migrants from the Middle East and Africa have reshaped political debate within the EU and prompted stricter border controls. Before the summit, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, met el-Sissi in Brussels. According to the Egyptian presidency, el-Sissi told her that Europe had not been “significantly affected by illegal immigration” from Egypt because authorities have prevented boat departures since 2016.
Egypt is both a country of transit and destination. With a population of about 116 million, Egyptian authorities say nine million migrants reside in the country, including roughly 900,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers under the U.N. system. Many come from conflict-affected states in sub-Saharan Africa, while others attempt onward journeys across the Mediterranean.
For the EU, Cairo is a partner for regional stability, energy transit and supply-chain resilience. The EU is Egypt’s largest trading partner, and the Suez Canal remains a strategic chokepoint for European trade. The Commission has sought to align economic support with reforms intended to attract investment and strengthen resilience. Admission to Horizon would open channels for Egyptian universities and firms to participate in EU-funded consortia.
Rights organisations have urged EU leaders to attach human rights benchmarks to any new agreements. Amnesty International said von der Leyen and Costa should press the Egyptian authorities to end “arbitrary detentions, unfair trials and harsh prison sentences of critics”. European officials say governance issues will be raised alongside economic and security cooperation.
Both sides enter the meeting with immediate economic interests. Houthi attacks in and around the Red Sea have pushed ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, reducing Suez Canal transits and a major source of Egypt’s foreign-currency income. European companies have faced longer delivery times and higher insurance costs, sharpening the EU’s focus on maritime security and resilient supply chains.
The migration track sits within the EU’s practice of offering assistance and investment in return for cooperation to deter irregular crossings. Brussels says such partnerships can cut deaths at sea and weaken smuggling networks; rights groups warn that tougher controls without safeguards risk abuses and limit access to asylum. Officials say any arrangements with Egypt will be implemented with international partners and accompanied by monitoring provisions.
During his visit to Belgium, el-Sissi is expected to meet King Philippe. A summary of conclusions is due after the leaders’ session in Brussels on Wednesday.
