The first EU-Egypt summit will focus on economic ties, migration and Gaza
BRUSSELS AP Egypt and the European Union will hold their first summit on Wednesday in Brussels where leaders will discuss measure arrangement and migration as well as stability in Gaza Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Ant nio Costa are expected to announce increased European economic assistance to Egypt and Egypt s admission to the EU s Horizons research incubation operation a billion euro about billion fund for scientific research and innovation in fields from quantum tool to the space industry New deals amid regional tensions The summit comes as the -nation bloc has sought to forge new contract and precaution deals amidst geopolitical tumult sparked by the combative policies of U S President Donald Trump and export controls from Chinese President Xi Jinping Part of its approach is a so-called Pact for the Mediterranean in which the EU seeks deeper integration with countries from Morocco to Turkey including offering European aid in exchange for efforts to slow migration to Europe Egypt s economic woes Egypt is weathering soaring inflation as well as instability from the still-smoldering war in neighboring Gaza El-Sissi described Costa and other world leaders last week that U S President Donald Trump s Mideast proposal which aims at ending Israel s two-year war in Gaza represents the last chance for peace in the region and reiterated his call for a two-state method saying Palestinians have the right to an independent state The EU is Egypt s largest trading partner During the signing of a joint declaration last year Brussels broadcasted a billion euros about billion aid package for cash-strapped Egypt in the form of loans assets and patronage for specific programs such as migration The deal injected much-needed funds into the Egyptian business sector which has been hit hard by years of administration austerity the coronavirus pandemic the fallout from Russia s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and preponderance in recent times the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza Houthi attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea have also slashed Suez Canal revenues which is a major source for foreign currency by forcing traffic away from the canal and around the tip of Africa Both Brussels and Cairo have serious concerns over migration Europe and Asylum-seekers Arrivals of asylum-seekers and other foreigners fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa for Europe over the past decade helped fuel rising far-right populism and led to stricter dividing line controls that have drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups Before the Wednesday summit the EU s top diplomat Kaja Kallas met with el-Sissi in Brussels where he informed her that Europe hasn t been significantly affected by illegal immigration because Egypt had thwarted launches since of a large number of boats of refugees according to a comment from the president s office El-Sissi should press the EU to do more for Gaza noted Eve Geddie director of Amnesty International s European Institutions Office At the same time Von der Leyen and Costa should press the former military leader to stop rampant arbitrary detentions unfair trials and harsh prison sentences of critics she declared Egypt faces its own migration pressures While in newest years it has become a point of transit for those attempting the dangerous Mediterranean Sea passing to Europe Egypt has for decades been a refuge for transients from sub-Saharan Africa trying to escape armed conflict and crippling poverty Egypt whose population is million says there are million newcomers in the country including about who are registered refugees and asylum-seekers with the U N refugee agency El-Sissi is also expected to meet King Philippe I of Belgium during his visit Associated Press writer Samy Magdy contributed to this summary from Cairo Source
