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 defense deal 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 effort a billion euro about billion fund for scientific research and innovation in fields from quantum innovation to the space industry New deals amid regional tensions The summit comes as the -nation bloc has sought to forge new exchange and shield 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 explained 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 key 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 disclosed a billion euros about billion aid package for cash-strapped Egypt in the form of loans financing and sponsorship 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 the majority lately 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 asylum seekers 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 stated her that Europe hasn t been significantly affected by illegal immigration because Egypt had thwarted launches since of a multitude of boats of foreigners according to a report 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 revealed Egypt faces its own migration pressures While in latest years it has become a point of transit for those attempting the dangerous Mediterranean Sea traveling to Europe Egypt has for decades been a refuge for displaced persons from sub-Saharan Africa trying to escape armed conflict and crippling poverty Egypt whose population is million says there are million movers 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 statement from Cairo Source