The European Union is deepening its relations with Egypt, increasing financial support to the North African country despite ongoing human rights concerns.
The European Commission is set to sign a €75 million package to support to Egypt in a high-level summit with the European Union that will take place on Wednesday in Brussels, an EU official told Euronews.
The grant aims to promote socio-economic development, strengthen resilience, and foster inclusive growth through improved access to health, education, water, and sanitation, especially for women and youth, the official informed.
Egypt played a vital role in facilitating a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. It also hosted an international conference aimed at implementing the first phase of the Gaza peace earlier this month. US President Donald Trump was in attendance alongside European and Arab leaders.
The funding is part of a macro-financial framework adopted in March 2024, which foresees a total investment of €7.4 billion to Egypt between 2024 and 2027.
"Today’s first EU–Egypt High-Level event and Summit mark a new phase of our Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership, further strengthening cooperation on economic resilience, sustainable development, and reforms," European Commissioner for the MediterraneanDubravka Šuica said in a statement**.**
During the meeting the EU will be represented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will attend the meeting.
Besides the €75 million in grants, the Commission will also announce additional loans during the event, the EU official said, under the €7.4 billion framework.
Euronews contacted the Egyptian mission to the EU for further details, without receiving a reply at the time of publication.
Not the first time
Since March 2024, the European Union has stepped up its cooperation with Egypt, which it regards as a strategic partner across six key areas: political relations, economic stability, trade and investment, migration and mobility, security and demography, and human capital.
As part of this renewed partnership, the EU unveiled a support package of macro-financial assistance of €7.4 billion for 2024–2027.
The disbursement of instalments does not occur automatically, since each requires the adoption of a distinct EU legislative act. As a result, the process may be influenced by political divisions or disagreements, potentially leading to its suspension.
In April of the same year, the EU approved and disbursed €1 billion short-term micro financial assistance loan to help Egypt tackle urgent economic stability challenges as part of the €7.4 billion package.
Earlier this year, EU countries and the European Parliament agreed to add further €4 billion under the same framework, not yet disbursed.
A 20 year relationship
The EU has regular relations with Egypt though the so-called "association council," convened for the first time in 2004.
The association is a joint political body usually convened whenever there is political will, that manages the EU’s bilateral relations with a non-EU country, overseeing their agreements and guiding political and economic cooperation.
On top of the association council, the EU and Egypt decided to convene a high-level meeting every two years, as a sign of the intensification of the bilateral relations, with the meeting on Wednesday being the first of such a kind.
"The EU deeply values Egypt’s stabilising role in the Middle East region and its mediation role in the Gaza conflict. Our first bilateral summit will be an excellent opportunity to further deepen our partnership, cooperate in addressing our common challenges and unleash the full potential of our relationship," Costa said in a press release ahead the event.
The most recent Association Council with Egypt was held in January 2024, where the two sides did not officially adopt any specific new decisions but instead issued a political declaration reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation and shared objectives, marking the 20th anniversary of their Association Agreement.
A 'strategic' partner with human rights issues
In 2024, the EU remained Egypt’s largest trading partner, representing 22% of its total trade. It was the top destination for Egyptian exports (26.5%) and the main source of its imports (19.9%).
Egypt is also a key country in migration management. Although it is not a major place of irregular departures, 9% of migrants who irregularly reached the EU territory are Egyptian nationals, according to 2024 data from the UN agency from migration IOM.
In a letter to EU head of states ahead of the European Council of Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised the adoption of further €675 for migration management for Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Algeria to prevent departures for the period 2025-2027.
According to the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), in 2025 Egypt’s population is estimated at approximately 116.3 million people, with a median age of around 24.5 years.
Young people tend to leave Egypt due to the deep economic crisis the North African country is experiencing, and the strong control of the society the El-Sisi regime.
The EU aims at creating the conditions for young people to remain in Egypt by investing in the country, but experts pointed out that the regime is part of the reason why the Egyptian's economy is stagnated.
Anthony Dworking of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) said one the problem for Egypt is "the heavy dominance of the army and regime-linked firms in the country’s economy, which crowds out private sector investment”.
"Egypt's government has promised reforms to level the economic playing field, but progress has been slow. European leaders should emphasise that deepening cooperation depends on Egypt following through on its promises," he added.