CAIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discussed here on Saturday ways to enhance bilateral cooperation following the elevation of their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.

During the meeting, Sisi highlighted the significant progress in Egyptian-European relations and called for further strengthening trade and investment ties, according to the statement.

Kallas noted that ongoing cooperation with Egypt was demonstrated by the first EU-Egypt summit held in October 2025 and expressed willingness to continue economic cooperation with Egypt.

The discussions also addressed regional security issues, including combating terrorism and illegal immigration, the latest developments of the Gaza ceasefire deal, and the situation in Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Ukraine, according to the statement.

Egypt and the EU elevated their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024, under which the EU announced a 7.4-billion-euro (8.66 billion U.S. dollars) support package for Egypt during 2024-2027. This includes up to 5 billion euros in concessional macro-financial assistance, 1.8 billion euros in investment guarantees and blended finance, and around 600 million euros in grants.

Egypt expects the remaining 4 billion of the macro-financial assistance package to be disbursed in three tranches by 2027, with the EU having provided 1 billion euros as the first tranche in late 2024.

Kallas said the second tranche will be disbursed in the coming days. ■