President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi is scheduled to attend the first Egypt-EU Summit meeting planned for 22 October in Brussels together with President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The summit is set to focus on bilateral relations and further deepening the political and economic partnership between the EU and Egypt with a view to fostering shared stability, peace, and prosperity. According to Ambassador Julietta Francisca Eichhorst, head of the European Union Delegation (EU) to Egypt, the summit marks a historic milestone in bilateral relations and reflects the “depth, trust, and predictability” of a partnership that has evolved into one of the most important in the Mediterranean and African regions.
In March 2024, the EU and Egypt agreed to elevate their relationship to the level of a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership covering six pillars of cooperation and common priorities: political relations, economic stability, trade and investments, migration and mobility, security and demography, and human capital.
The October summit is not just a diplomatic event, Eichhorst told Al-Ahram Weekly, but a statement of shared ambition for growth, sustainability, and a stronger Euro-Mediterranean future.
Eichhorst described Egypt as a vital and trusted partner of the EU, with both sides working intensively to deepen cooperation across key domains. The summit will finalise agreements under a 7.4 billion euro EU package, including one billion already disbursed, four billion in approved macro-financial aid, 1.8 billion in planned investments, and 600 million euros in grants supporting Egypt’s reform priorities.
Eichhorst underlined that the EU and Egypt are working closely together to ensure that the financial assistance directly supports the government’s priorities and produces tangible results on the ground. “This is not just about figures; it’s about building a partnership that delivers on shared goals: stability, prosperity, and sustainability,” she said.
The four billion euro tranche is part of a broader effort to “strengthen the country’s economic resilience, renewable energy transition, and migration management,” Eichhorst added.
Some 1.8 billion euros from the package has been earmarked to leverage at least five billion euros in private-sector investments, particularly in renewable energy projects under the EU-Egypt Investment Mechanism. “This part of the funding aims to bring in private capital to accelerate Egypt’s green transition,” she said.
Moreover, the 600 million euros in grants spans a three-year period to support Egypt’s development and governance priorities. Of that, 100 million euros has already been allocated this year in coordination with the Egyptian government, while 200 million euros will specifically target migration-related challenges, from prevention and protection to addressing smuggling networks and supporting vulnerable communities.
“Migration remains a key area of cooperation,” Eichhorst emphasised. “The goal is to address the entire cycle, from supporting communities at risk to strengthening control and protection mechanisms, always in full partnership with Egypt.”
Eichhorst highlighted the growing strength of the EU-Egypt partnership, noting that the June 2024 Investment Conference had led to over 30 agreements worth 49 billion euros, now expanded to 67 billion euros.
At the upcoming summit, Egypt will formally join Horizon Europe and sign the EU-Egypt Investment Guarantee Mechanism, expected to mobilise five billion euros in green investments by 2027. Additional deals include 75 million euros for local reforms and 100 million euros for skills and sustainability.
Eichhorst stressed that the funds are being coordinated with Egypt to support key priorities in Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development, especially energy, water, green transition, digitisation, and industry.
“We’re focused on results that improve lives,” she noted, highlighting joint efforts to direct investments towards high-impact areas like renewables, digital skills, and sustainable manufacturing.
Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development, launched in September, covers the coming five years and adopts a “new economic model” that centres on encouraging the high-productive sectors of the economy to boost macroeconomic stability and create the fiscal space for boosting human development.
The narrative is a “bold and coherent roadmap” that sets the foundation for a more sustainable, inclusive, and competitive economy, said Eichhorst, noting that it aligns closely with EU priorities for sustainable development and resilience-building.
She commended its “clarity of purpose”, adding that “it recognises that sustainable growth must come from innovation, private investment, and social inclusion, not just state-led expansion. This vision resonates strongly with Europe’s approach to economic transformation.”
She added that the EU-Egypt partnership has evolved into strategic and multidimensional cooperation covering investment, trade, renewable energy, and digital transformation. She said the EU stands ready to support Egypt’s reform agenda through expanded development financing, technical assistance, and private-sector engagement.
Europe views Egypt as a pivotal partner, not only for regional stability but also for the shared goal of building resilient, climate-smart economies, she explained. The EU has been one of Egypt’s largest trading and investment partners, with trade exceeding 30 billion euros in 2024 and growing European investor interest in the logistics, manufacturing, and technology sectors.
“Our cooperation goes beyond aid; it is a partnership based on mutual interests and shared priorities,” she told the Weekly.
Eichhorst underscored the importance of transparency, good governance, and regulatory predictability to attract sustainable European investment. She welcomed the Government’s commitment to creating more space for the private sector and improving the business environment, describing these steps as “essential for unlocking Egypt’s growth potential”.
She also noted that social inclusion and gender equality remain central to the EU’s cooperation with Egypt. “Economic progress is sustainable only if it benefits all segments of society,” she said. “We are proud to work with Egypt on empowering women entrepreneurs, supporting youth start-ups, and promoting education and digital skills.”
Looking ahead, Eichhorst expressed confidence that the EU-Egypt partnership will continue to serve as a model for regional cooperation based on mutual respect and shared progress.
She also touched upon the recently launched Mediterranean Pact, released last week in Brussels, noting that this is a landmark agreement and a comprehensive framework aimed at strengthening cooperation across the region in the areas of security, migration, economic development, and people-to-people engagement.
Last week, the European Commission and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy unveiled a new framework to deepen relations between the EU and its Southern Mediterranean partners with the aim of revitalising cooperation across the political, economic, and social fronts.
The pact prioritises clean energy cooperation, private-sector investment, and inclusive growth, with a special emphasis on youth, women, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as key drivers of regional progress.
Eichhorst described the pact as a major milestone for Euro-Mediterranean partnership that builds on three decades of cooperation and shared prosperity since the launch of the Barcelona Process.
“We have been in this together for the past 30 years,” she said. “This new pact, however, is for the future, and it is one that acknowledges the challenges ahead and sets out how we, the European Union and our Mediterranean partners, will face them together.”
She said the pact reflects the EU’s strategic focus on the Mediterranean, with Egypt playing a central role, describing it as a flexible framework tailored to each country’s priorities to ensure effective cooperation.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
Short link: