EU to enter talks with Egypt to stem flow of African migrants to Europe

CAIRO – 20 September 2018: Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz urged on Thursday the European Union (EU) to enter talks with Egypt to help stem the flow of migrants entering Europe from Africa, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

“Egypt has proven that it can be efficient in stopping people leaving its coast for Europe in search of better and safer lives,” Kurz said.

Kurz and EU Council President Donald Tusk visited Cairo in the weekend for talks with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. Kurz and Tusk praised Sisi for stopping people from leaving Egypt's coast for Europe.

Tusk said that “no migrants are leaving Egypt at the moment." Meanwhile, Kurz asserted, “Egypt is now prepared possibly to deepen cooperation with us in talks,” adding that the EU “should use that.”

"Egypt is the first country in North Africa that is ready to intensify talks with the European Union," Kurz added.

On Sunday, Sisi met with visiting President of the European Council Tusk and Chancellor of Austria Kurz, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and Head of the General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamel, as well as the head of the EU mission in Cairo and Austria's ambassador in Cairo.

Spokesman of the presidency Bassam Rady said the meeting dealt with consultations on a number of issues of mutual interest including illegal immigration.

Rady explained that Sisi underlined efforts exerted by Egypt to combat illegal immigration by securing sea and land ports, in light of the instability in the neighboring countries.

Sisi underscored that Egypt's efforts have contributed to addressing the illegal immigration of refugees across the Mediterranean, as there has not been a single case recorded in Egypt from 2016 until now, Rady said.

The president explained that Egypt hosts millions of refugees of different nationalities on its territory and offers them decent livelihoods without isolating them in refugee camps or shelters, as they enjoy equal treatment with Egyptian citizens, Rady added.

Rady pointed out that the president also stressed the need to address the main reasons behind illegal immigration by reaching political solutions to crises in the region and restoring stability and security.

The meeting also tackled a number of other issues, such as the Libyan and Syrian crises, as both sides have similar views concerning these crises, urging the need to continue to work to reach political settlements in order to eliminate the illegal immigration.

The two sides agreed on the need to intensify the Arab-European coordination to face regional challenges and threats, underlining that the proposed EU and Arab countries summit in the coming period serves as an opportunity to consult, exchange views, and boost cooperation between both sides on regional issues.