The European Union will disburse €1bn in macro-financial assistance to Egypt to support its economy and reform agenda, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said. She made the remarks after talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Cairo, stressing that Egypt remains a strategic partner for the bloc with a pivotal role in regional security and stability.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas made these remarks following talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Cairo. She welcomed the resumption of high-level engagement after the successful first EU-Egypt summit held in October.
The assistance is part of the EU’s Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) programme for Egypt, announced in March 2024 within a comprehensive strategic partnership framework aimed at supporting economic stability and accelerating structural reforms. The total EU support package amounts to €7.4bn for the 2024–2027 period, including €5bn in MFA and budget support, €1.8bn in guarantees and private-sector investment mobilisation, and €600m in development grants.
According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, President Al-Sisi welcomed the growing momentum in relations with the European Union and stressed the importance of swiftly implementing the summit’s outcomes, particularly following the upgrade of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The discussions covered a broad range of political, economic, and security issues, including cooperation on counterterrorism, combating organised crime, and addressing irregular migration, alongside efforts to expand trade, investment, and economic ties between Egypt and the EU.
On regional developments, both sides emphasised the need for full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access, and firmly rejecting any attempts to displace Palestinians. They also called for accelerating the second phase of the truce and launching reconstruction efforts.
The talks further addressed developments in Libya, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Ukraine, with both sides agreeing that crises should be resolved through peaceful means while respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity. Kallas noted that the EU looks forward to launching the first formal Egypt-EU security and defence dialogue in March 2026, underscoring the growing depth of cooperation.