Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a significant step toward strengthening political and economic ties between Europe and North Africa, the European Union and Egypt will convene for their first-ever bilateral summit on 22 October 2025 in Brussels. The historic meeting will bring together President of the European Council António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Held at a time of mounting geopolitical pressures and regional instability, the summit marks a new chapter in EU-Egypt relations, building upon a long-standing partnership that has grown increasingly multifaceted in recent years. With both parties emphasizing the importance of collaboration on regional stability, economic development, and security, the summit is expected to produce tangible outcomes that reflect their shared strategic interests.
“Egypt is a key strategic partner for the European Union, not only because of its geographic proximity but also due to the stabilising role it plays in the Middle East and North Africa,” President Costa stated ahead of the summit. “This first bilateral summit is an excellent opportunity to deepen our partnership and unleash its full potential.”
The high-level meeting will center on bilateral relations and explore avenues for expanding political cooperation and economic engagement. Leaders are expected to address a broad range of global and regional challenges, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, global trade dynamics, irregular migration, multilateral cooperation, and regional security.
The summit follows the signing of the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership between the EU and Egypt in March 2024, an agreement designed to elevate the relationship to a new level of cooperation across six core areas: political relations, economic stability, trade and investment, migration and mobility, security, and demography and human capital development.
To support this partnership, the EU has pledged a €7.4 billion financial and investment package for the 2024–2027 period. The initiative aims to facilitate sustainable development in Egypt while enhancing EU engagement in North Africa through long-term investments, infrastructure development, and policy alignment.
Trade remains a central pillar of the EU-Egypt relationship. The EU-Egypt Association Agreement, in force since 2004, has established a free trade area, eliminating tariffs on industrial goods and easing the exchange of agricultural products. In 2024, the EU remained Egypt’s largest trading partner, accounting for 22% of the country’s total trade. Bilateral trade in goods reached €32.5 billion, with EU exports to Egypt totaling €19.9 billion and imports amounting to €12.6 billion.
Alongside the official summit, a high-level side event titled “Implementing the EU-Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership: Accelerating Strategic Investment, Industrial Transformation and Innovation” will take place. This gathering will convene political leaders, industry executives, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs from both sides. The event will focus on turning the strategic agreement into actionable projects that drive innovation, industrial development, and long-term competitiveness for both economies.
As Europe continues to recalibrate its relationships with neighboring regions amid shifting global dynamics, the EU-Egypt summit is seen as a crucial test of the bloc’s ability to forge pragmatic and mutually beneficial alliances. For Egypt, the summit offers a platform to attract investment, deepen trade ties, and position itself as a regional anchor of stability and growth.
With high expectations and a comprehensive agenda, the 22 October summit in Brussels is poised to become a milestone in the evolving relationship between the European Union and Egypt, underscoring the strategic importance of cooperation in an increasingly interconnected and volatile world.
