Cairo – Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, is holding talks today, Thursday, with several officials in Egypt to strengthen cooperation in the areas of security and migration. This visit underscores the importance of the partnership between the European Union and Egypt in addressing cross-border threats and consolidating operational coordination. According to a European statement circulated in Brussels, Egypt is considered a valuable partner to the European Union on issues of migration and security—notably within the framework of the "Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling" and the "Eastern Route" initiative. The latter is a collective, migration-route-based response designed to address challenges spanning from South Asia to North Africa—specifically Libya, a departure point for many migrants embarking on perilous sea journeys across the Mediterranean toward Europe.
During his visit, Commissioner Brunner will meet with Egypt’s Minister of Interior, Mahmoud Tawfik, to discuss cooperation across various aspects of migration management, including combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking, addressing the illicit trade in drugs and firearms, and managing borders. The discussions will also cover collaboration with relevant EU agencies, such as Europol, CEPOL, Frontex, and the EU Drugs Agency. Furthermore, the Commissioner will witness the signing of a new working arrangement between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) and the Egyptian Ministry of Interior. Later, Commissioner Brunner will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty to explore avenues for cooperation on the migration dossier.
This close cooperation with Egypt is anchored in the 2024 "Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership"—a commitment reaffirmed during the inaugural summit between EU and Egyptian leaders in October 2025.