Italy welcomes legal migrants from Egypt, aims for bigger energy cooperation: FM Antonio Tajani

CAIRO – 22 January 2023: In a joint press conference with Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shokry, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani stated Sunday that his country welcomes legal migrants from Egypt and aims for bigger energy cooperation with the fellow Mediterranean state.

The minister elaborated that Italy wants to establish an energy hub in Europe in cooperation with other Mediterranean states, and that it works with energy exporting countries, including Egypt, to devise a solution to the energy crisis in a way that is satisfactory to all parties.

As for migration, Tajani noted that Italy welcomes legal Egyptian migrants, expressing readiness to train them and granting them scholarships, even for graduate studies programs.

On the other hand, the Italian minister of foreign affairs added that he had discussed with his Egyptian counterpart cooperation on combating illegal migration and resolving the Libyan crisis, underscoring the gravity of the situation in the neighboring state.

The other areas of cooperation discussed are agriculture and manufacturing so that Tajani announced that both countries are organizing a visit by Italian businessmen to Egypt.

In another context, the minister declared that the talks tackled the Russia- Ukraine War, and the necessity of securing grains to developing countries to inhibit any food crises that would incur higher rates of illegal migration.