EU, Egypt Deepen Strategic Partnership

The European Union and Egypt pledged to deepen cooperation on trade, security, migration and regional diplomacy during the first EU-Egypt Association Council meeting since the two sides signed a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership in 2024. 

Speaking alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Luxembourg on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described Egypt as a key strategic partner and said discussions would focus on advancing cooperation in trade, investment, energy, the green transition, migration and people-to-people exchanges. 

Kallas said the EU was also strengthening security cooperation with Egypt amid growing regional and international challenges. 

Earlier this month, the bloc approved an additional 20 million euros ($23 million) in support for the Egyptian Armed Forces to help bolster maritime security in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, two waterways of major strategic importance. 

She warned that Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" poses risks to both European and Egyptian waters and said the two sides would discuss ways to improve sanctions enforcement. Kallas noted that vessels participating in the EU's Operation IRINI mission in the Mediterranean are conducting inspections of ships suspected of smuggling Russian oil.

The EU official also praised Egypt's role in regional diplomacy, citing its efforts to facilitate mediation initiatives, including talks related to Hamas and support for diplomatic engagement with Iran. Regional conflicts, particularly the situation in Gaza, featured prominently in the discussions. Kallas said the lack of progress in implementing a Gaza peace framework continued to hinder broader regional stability.

She reiterated the EU's support for increasing the movement of people through the Rafah border crossing and expanding medical evacuations from Gaza, describing Egypt as an indispensable partner in humanitarian efforts. 

 The Association Council meeting comes as Brussels and Cairo seek to translate their strategic partnership into closer political, economic and security cooperation amid ongoing instability in the Middle East and heightened concerns over maritime security in the Mediterranean and Red Sea regions.