European and Egyptian leaders are meeting in Brussels to strengthen ties on trade, migration and Middle East stability.
The first EU-Egypt summit opened in the Belgian capital on Wednesday, kicking off three days of high-level talks.
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was welcomed ahead of Thursday’s regular EU summit and a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” for Ukraine on Friday.
The talks aim to reinforce what both sides now call a strategic partnership – focusing on trade, migration and regional security.
Building a partnership
EU officials say Europe remains Egypt’s leading trading partner, accounting for about a quarter of the country’s commerce.
The “migration and mobility” pillar of the partnership is also being highlighted, as migration will dominate Thursday’s wider European discussions.
European Council president Antonio Costa has underlined the EU’s appreciation of Egypt’s “stabilising role” in the Middle East and its “mediation efforts” in the Gaza conflict.
All key topics were expected to be discussed on Wednesday evening, including the role of Hamas, the situation in the West Bank and the humanitarian emergency in Gaza.
The summit links closely to the European Council meeting on Thursday, where leaders will again debate Gaza, drawing on exchanges with al-Sisi.
European leaders hope that the current ceasefire agreement can help pave the way towards the two-state solution they continue to support.
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Investment and recognition
For Cairo, the summit offers a chance to consolidate the strategic partnership concluded in 2024, covering political, economic and security cooperation.
Politically, al-Sisi wants to confirm Egypt’s position as an essential mediator in Middle East peace efforts.
Al-Sisi’s influence was evident at a recent Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit, which brought together around 30 heads of state and government to discuss Gaza.
Observers in Cairo say al-Sisi hopes to build on that momentum and reinforce Egypt’s image as a pragmatic power able to speak to all sides.
Economically, Egypt’s situation remains fragile. Inflation has eased and the pound has recovered slightly against the euro and dollar, but the country still badly needs investment and financial support from Europe.
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Energy and industry
EU leaders, for their part, see Egypt as a valuable partner for energy cooperation, infrastructure and industrial projects.
Al-Sisi has travelled to Brussels with a large delegation of public and private business leaders to court that investment.
The European Commission is expected to sign a €75 million package to support to Egypt.
Cairo also presents itself as a frontline partner on migration. Egyptian officials point to the navy’s record in stopping almost all unauthorised departures from the northern coast in recent years.
That success gives al-Sisi leverage with European leaders keen to show they can control migration routes.
This article has been adapted from the original French and lightly edited for clarity
