Council of the EU

           EU-Egypt Association Council

                   23 January 2024

Agenda highlights

The 10th meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council will take place in Brussels on 23 January 2024. This meeting marks the 20th anniversary since the Association Agreement entered into force in 2004. The meeting, which will be chaired this time by High Representative Josep Borrell, with Egyptian side being led by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, will begin at 10.30.

The EU attaches great importance to its relationship with Egypt as a key partner and regional player and underlines the strategic nature of the partnership.

During the Association Council, both parties are expected to discuss their cooperation within the framework of the Egypt-EU partnership priorities 2021-2027, agreed at the EU-Egypt Association Council of 19 June 2022.

The Association Council will focus on bilateral relations, including cooperation to enhance stability in Egypt and in the EU – including human rights, security, counter-terrorism, and migration – as well as cooperation in economic and social issues – ranging from investments to environment and energy. The Association Council will also address foreign policy matters, including a number of regional crises.

Discussions will follow the last Association Council meeting's commitment to further promote democracy, fundamental freedoms and human rights and address common challenges, promote joint interests and guarantee long-term stability and sustainable development for both partners.

The EU and Egypt will discuss ongoing initiatives aiming, within the framework of the Association Agreement and the Partnership Priorities, to unleash the full potential of EU-Egypt relations, accompany Egypt’s socio-economic development, and help mitigate the impact of the current crises in the region with a view to achieve shared stability and security.

In the margins of the meeting, the parties are also expected to sign a Framework Agreement on Egypt’s participation in EU programmes.