Easier visa process for Egypt in exchange for curbing Europe’s migrant problem

CAIRO – 21 February 2017: The European Union (EU) is willing to offer simplified visa procedures and more economic aid to Egypt and Tunisia in exchange for facilitating the expulsion of African migrants seeking to cross into Europe through Libya, Reuters reported, quoting two senior officials in Brussels.

While the EU is also training the Libyan coast guard, the cooperation with neighboring countries is intended to guarantee a “smoother deportation” of the African migrants.

"Egypt has two concerns, socio-economic stability and security. And these are interlinked," an EU official said, according to Reuters.

"So we are working on establishing a dialogue that would look at that, to the benefit of both the migrants there but also Egyptians from the most vulnerable groups," he clarified.

According to ABC news, over 4,500 migrant deaths were recorded in 2016 on the smuggling route between Libya and Italy through the Mediterranean, while more than 180,000 people made the crossing.