Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, on Tuesday to discuss cooperation on migration issues.
Abdelatty congratulated Brunner on his appointment within the new European Commission. He highlighted Egypt’s commitment to strengthening its existing cooperation with the EU in this critical area, which presents a shared challenge for both parties. The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of addressing migration comprehensively, linking it to development and tackling the root causes of illegal immigration.
In this context, Abdelatty noted the success of Egypt’s efforts to combat illegal immigration, particularly the halt of all illegal migration boats heading to Europe from Egypt since September 2016.
The Foreign Minister indicated Egypt’s interest in enhanced joint coordination to implement cooperation projects within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership. This includes regular migration, the creation of legal pathways for migration and labour mobility, and the launch of training and technical/vocational education programmes to prepare Egyptian workers for the European labour market. He also mentioned the “Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa” programme, known as THAMM PLUS, launched on February 10, which aims to benefit both sides by addressing the needs of the European labour market.
Abdelatty also highlighted the challenges and burdens Egypt faces in hosting approximately 10 million foreigners, including refugees and migrants. He noted that the level of international support received by Egypt is modest and disproportionate to the increasing burdens it bears.
