France, Oct. 22 -- European and Egyptian leaders are meeting in Brussels to strengthen ties on trade, migration and Middle East stability.

The first ever European Union-Egypt summit gets underway in Brussels this Wednesday, marking the start of three days of high-level diplomacy in the Belgian capital.

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was welcomed ahead of Thursday's regular EU summit and a meeting of the "coalition of the willing" for Ukraine on Friday.

The talks with Egypt are intended to reinforce what both sides now call a strategic partnership, with a focus on trade, migration and regional stability.

According to the agenda sent to EU capitals, Europe remains Egypt's leading trading partner, accounting for around a quarter...