During a visit to Cairo on Tuesday 10 September, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, underlined the “solid bilateral ties” between the EU and Egypt.
“Since my last visit (a year ago, editor’s note), our partnership has been growing and has been elevated to a strategic and comprehensive one, but unfortunately the regional situation continues deteriorating, both in terms of human tragedy and security risks. Not only to the east with Palestine and Lebanon, but also to the west in Libya, and to the south in Sudan”, summarised Mr Borrell before the media, alongside the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty.
Mr Borrell pointed out that in June the EU had announced a financial programme to help Cairo and had organised, with Egypt, an investment conference which had led to the signing of some 30 agreements worth almost €50 billion.
“We will continue supporting Egypt in its recovery, offering assistance in the implementation of the much-needed reforms including in the implementation of the national human rights strategy”, he promised.
Recalling the impact on Egypt’s finances of the Houthis’ attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Mr Borrell explained that the EU would stand by the country through investment and economic and financial support.
Mr Borrell also supported Egyptian efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza (see other news).
Migration flows. The day before, in Cairo, Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, and Badr Abdelatty discussed ways of deepening cooperation in the field of migration, according to a joint press release.
The Commissioner praised “Egypt’s successful efforts in preventing irregular migration and controlling its borders, including preventing the departure of vessels carrying irregular migrants from Egypt through the Mediterranean Sea since September 2016, and conducting search and rescue operations to save lives at sea”. She also praised Egypt’s efforts to welcome more than 9 million migrants, refugees and asylum seekers of different nationalities.
“I would like to start by acknowledging what Egypt has been doing for many years, being able to receive refugees and make them part of society. You have recently taken in quite a high number of Sudanese and I understand that this is a special challenge, especially if you take into account the economic pressure that you also are facing. I think we have a lot to gain from working together on the migration topic”, said the Commissioner at a joint press briefing on Monday 9 September.
The Egyptian minister, for his part, stressed the importance of “facilitating pathways for regular migration and increasing awareness of the dangers of irregular migration, as well as enhancing cooperation with a view to developing education, vocational and technical training to improve skills and employability, creating job opportunities and facilitating mobility to the EU”.
The two sides also looked at ways of strengthening cooperation between the Egyptian national authorities and the European Union’s home affairs agencies, and discussed issues relating to returns.
With regard to inter-agency cooperation, “we are very close to be able to sign a working arrangement between EU and Egypt for Europol, which will also help in the fight against smugglers and for security”, the Commissioner pointed out. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Solenn Paulic)