RomeAfter the memorandum signed with Tunisia and Libya to curb irregular immigration to European shores, the European Union has closed this Sunday a new strategic agreement, this time with Egypt, which includes aid of 7.4 billion euros to guarantee the political and economic stability of the country, a key player in the midst of the strong instability that the region is experiencing. The pact seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation on immigration, at a time when the Arab country has become one of the main ports of departure for ships crossing the Mediterranean.
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The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, headed the delegation that met in Cairo with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and which also included the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, the current president of the Council, the Belgian Alexander de Croo, and the heads of government of Austria, Greece and Cyprus.
“The partnership between the EU and Egypt is of crucial importance. The presence of six European leaders today demonstrates how we value our relationship”, emphasized Von der Leyen at the joint press conference, in which he assessed as “a historic milestone” that the agreement makes it easier for Egypt to “dedicate itself completely to controlling illegal immigration and border management”. For his part, Al-Sisi has highlighted the effectiveness of the fight against illegal migration since 2016, the date since which the Egyptian authorities have prevented 9,000 people from leaving for European shores, the president has defended Egyptian
According to the text of the declaration on the strategic and global partnership signed this Sunday, the EU pledges to give the “necessary financial support” to help Egypt promote legal immigration routes and combat human trafficking “by strengthening the management of borders” and bilateral cooperation between Cairo and European countries. The package includes grants and loans over the next three years for the most populous country in the Arab world. In the document, the EU “recognizes Egypt as a reliable partner, as well as its unique and vital geostrategic role” in safeguarding “security” and “peace in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa region”.
The aid package will be divided into 5,000 million euros as loans for the macro-financial assistance of the country; 1.8 billion in additional investments under the Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighboring Countries and the direct delivery to Egypt of another 600 million euros, of which 200 will be dedicated directly to border management. With this agreement, the EU hopes to strengthen its bilateral relationship with Cairo, which has just concluded an agreement with the International Monetary Fund and another investment pact with the United Arab Emirates to deal with its serious financial difficulties.
Criticism of the outsourcing of immigration
This is the second time Von der Leyen has met with Al-Sisi since November 2023. The EU’s aim is to reproduce the strategy approached with Tunisia, with whom the EU signed an agreement last summer to curb irregular immigration, which was heavily criticized by associations defending human rights and progressive political formations, which denounced Brussels’ intention to outsource immigration management.
The new agreement reached with Egypt has also not escaped the protests in the European Parliament from socialists, greens and even part of the European People’s Party, according to which Brussels cannot provide funds to a country where democracy and human rights are not guaranteed. “The template is exactly the same as that of the EU’s failed agreements with Tunisia and Mauritania: stop immigration and ignore abuses,” reported Human Rights Watch. “Strengthening authoritarian regimes betrays human rights defenders,” added the NGO, which recalled that Al-Sisi, who assumed power after leading a military coup in 2013, rules the country “with his hand of iron”.
The strategy of offering economic funds in exchange for stopping the departure of immigrants “in recent years has only trampled on fundamental rights and has not produced a solution of European solidarity”, criticized the secretary of the Italian Democratic Party, Elly Schlein . The leader of the opposition has considered it very serious that Prime Minister Meloni has met with Al-Sisi, on the sidelines of the EU, to strengthen bilateral relations between Italy and Egypt, where numerous Italian companies operate within the framework of the Plan Mattei, the multi-million investment program for development in Africa in terms of training, energy or infrastructure promoted by the Italian Prime Minister.
2024-03-17 20:41:18
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