Egypt, EU chart future cooperation with €4B support package, strategic partnership initiatives

CAIRO – 23 October 2025: Egypt and the European Union marked a new phase in their Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership on Wednesday, signing and pursuing a number of landmark agreements that set the direction for future collaboration.

Held in Brussels, the first-ever joint summit between the two sides addressed wide-ranging fields such as financial support, energy transition, trade, migration, and security.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended the summit, alongside President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

It came a culmination of the Egypt-EU strategic partnership signed in March 2024.

Sectorial Cooperation

On the sidelines of the summit, both sides signed a €4 billion macro-financial assistance memorandum of understanding, according to a joint statement after the meeting.

This disbursement makes up the largest share of the EU’s €7.4 billion financial support pledged to Egypt as part of their Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership signed in 2024.

Together with the first €1 billion macro-financial loan disbursed in December 2024, the new €4 billion operation brings total EU macro-financial assistance to Egypt under the partnership to €5 billion.

According to the EU, the agreement will improve access to essential quality services, including health, education, water, and sanitation, and complement existing social safety nets, particularly for women and youth.

Moreover, Egypt and the EU signed an agreement formalizing Egypt’s association to the “Horizon Europe” research and innovation program.

The EU further announced new financial packages for Egypt for 2025, including €110.5 million to advance sustainable development, vocational training, and future skills, and €50 million to support private-sector investments in Egypt’s green transition.

 

Migration, Border Management

In the field of migration, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to tackling irregular migration through coordinated, responsible action.

They agreed to launch the first EU-funded projects under the €200 million migration package beginning in 2025/2026, and to continue cooperation on backing Egypt’s efforts in hosting refugees.

The statement also outlined enhanced cooperation on border management, combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and collaboration with EU’s Frontex agency when needed.

Egypt will participate in the in the second conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in December 2025.

Energy, Climate Cooperation

On energy and climate cooperation, Egypt and the EU will launch a comprehensive analytical study to bolster Egypt's position in the low-carbon economy.

The study will assess policy options, including appropriate carbon pricing instruments and schemes.

The two sides also underscored commitment to the Blue Economy to promote sustainable use of marine resources and fostering economic growth.

Trade, Investment

In trade and investment, both sides agreed to continue discussions toward a possible Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA) to modernize economic ties.

Meanwhile, Egypt and the EU will jointly support the plurilateral initiative for an Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, with Egypt joining as co-sponsor of the request for the Agreement's legal integration into the WTO rulebook.

A joint business roundtable in 2026 will showcase new investment opportunities, particularly in green and clean technologies.

Security, Justice

In security and justice, the two sides agreed to begin exploratory talks on establishing an EU–Egypt security and defense dialogue, launch the second round of the counterterrorism dialogue in early 2026, and operationalize the working arrangement signed between Europol and the Ministry of Interior of Egypt in 2025.

The two sides will follow up on the 3rd Egypt-EU Senior Official Meeting on Security with the Egyptian Ministry of Interior, focusing on countering organised crime, cooperation with EU Agencies and European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).

They will also engage in negotiations on potential collaboration with Eurojust to enhance judicial cooperation in criminal matters and with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The two sides will explore expanded work on cybersecurity and combating cybercrime.

The EU will explore the possible accession of Egypt to Hague Conventions, in the field of civil and commercial law matters and in the field of family law.

Demography, Human Capital

The partnership includes human capital and digital connectivity projects, such as completing the MEDUSA submarine fiber-optic cable project with a landing station in Port Said by 2027.

The joint statement also announced Egypt’s accession to the European Alliance for Apprenticeships to improve vocational training and facilitate trainee mobility.