Brussels, 08/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner with responsibility for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos, who travelled to Athens on Tuesday 7 April for meetings with, among others, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, to discuss European asylum rules, has had to cancel his visit to Egypt scheduled for 7 and 8 April as “his plane was unable to take off”, his spokesperson's services have said.
In Cairo, Avramopoulos was due to meet President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab. A meeting was also planned with Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghafar. The visit has been put off until a later date.
The EU has begun to strengthen its cooperation with third countries, in particular, with countries which neighbour Libya, to prevent departures of migrants heading to Europe. Egypt is seen as a sufficiently sure partner for pilot projects to be undertaken. (Solenn Paulic)