Egypt

EU and Egypt

Relations between the EU and Egypt are based on the Association Agreement, which entered into force in June 2004. 

The Partnership Priorities adopted at the ninth meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council in June 2022 guide the relationship for the period 2021-2027 to further deepen dialogue and cooperation around three overarching priorities:

• Sustainable Modern Economy and Social Development
• Partnering in Foreign Policy
• Enhancing Stability

EU-Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership

On 17 March 2024, building on the Association Agreement concluded in 2004 and the Partnership Priorities agreed in 2022, the EU and Egypt have signed a Joint Declaration launching a new Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership allowing to untap the enormous potential of the relationship across all spheres of mutual interest.

The partnership covers 6 joint priorities: Political relations; Economic stability; Trade and sustainable investments; Migration and mobility; Security; People and skills. To underpin this partnership, the EU provides a substantial financial support package for Egypt worth €7.4 billion for 2024-2027 with:

• €5 billion in concessional loans (macro-financial assistance)
• €1.8 billion of additional investments, under the Southern Neighborhood Economic and Investment Plan
• €600 million in additional grants, including €200 million for migration management.

Bilateral cooperation

On 9 February 2021, the European Commission adopted a Joint Communication on the renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood, establishing a new Agenda for the Mediterranean to relaunch and reinforce the EU’s partnership with the region. This is the basis of the current cooperation framework between the EU and Egypt. 

EU assistance to Egypt is funded mainly through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-GE) for the period 2021-2027. The instrument’s approach includes grant funding as well as blending grants with loans from European and International Financing Institutions.

The European Union’s cooperation framework with Egypt is the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for the period 2021-2027, based on the new Partnership Priorities, to support Egypt in the areas of:

• green and sustainable development
• human development, economic resilience and prosperity building through green and digital transition
• social cohesion, and the development of a modern and democratic state.

From 2021 to 2024, bilateral assistance to the country amounted to over €450 million.

The Joint Communication on the renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood is accompanied by an Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighbourhood (EIP) to strengthen resilience and build prosperity in the region. The EIP implements the Global Gateway in the region. EIP projects implemented in Egypt include: 

• Gabal Asfar wastewater treatment plant – Stage III, enhancing capacity and benefitting extra population through 1 million m3 of additional disposed water
• Tanta-El Mansoura-Damietta Railway, upgrading the 118 km Tanta-El Mansoura-Damietta railway line, including the doubling of the section El Mansoura-Damietta, re-signaling of the whole line and a freight link to Damietta port
• GREGY submarine electricity interconnection, building a 950 km long submarine cable to connect the electric power systems of Egypt and Greece for the transmission of clean energy produced from renewable sources in Egypt

More on on EU-Egypt relations: Factograph - EU-Egypt relations - European Commission

Further information

Factsheets available to download