Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi arrived in Brussels on Tuesday for the first-ever EU-Egypt summit, aimed at deepening the strategic and comprehensive partnership between the two sides. The summit, set for Wednesday, October 22, will focus on economic cooperation and regional challenges. It marks the culmination of the partnership launched in Cairo in March 2024.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi arrived in Brussels on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, leading Egypt's delegation to the historic first-ever EU-Egypt summit scheduled for Wednesday. He will be hosted by European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shennawy described the summit as the culmination of the comprehensive strategic partnership officially launched in Cairo in March 2024.
The summit emphasizes economic cooperation, with a major business forum on investment opportunities in Egypt held on the sidelines, attracting leading European companies in sectors like tourism, infrastructure, renewable energy (including green hydrogen), and digital transformation. Egypt aims to promote itself as a stable and attractive investment destination in the region, highlighting its geostrategic location and extensive ties in Africa and the Arab world. The European Council stated: “Egypt is a strategic partner for the European Union,” noting longstanding ties rooted in shared history, geography, culture, and people-to-people bonds.
Beyond economics, leaders will discuss global and regional challenges, including the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as cooperation on migration and security. EU Ambassador to Egypt Angelina Eichhorst called the March 2024 partnership signing an “unprecedented step towards a true partnership,” accompanied by a 7.4 billion euro financial aid package—the second-largest for a non-member state after Ukraine. She added: “This initiative reflects global confidence in the Egyptian economy and confirms Egypt’s ability to face challenges and achieve sustainable growth.”
The 2024 Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership covers six pillars: political relations, economic stability, trade and investments, migration and mobility, security, and demography and human capital. It includes a commitment to hold an EU-Egypt summit every two years. The EU was Egypt's largest trading partner in 2024, accounting for 22% of its total trade and serving as the main destination for Egyptian exports. The partnership seeks to fully implement the Free Trade Area from the 2004 Association Agreement.
During the visit, Al-Sisi is scheduled to meet senior EU officials, several European leaders, and King Philippe of Belgium. The trip aims to strengthen political coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including Egypt's vision for combating illegal migration.