Analysis briefly:
- An crucial agreement was signed between Egypt and the European Union in March 2024. The EU continues its externalisation policy for border protection. The agreement is another step to halt the influx of illegal migrants.
- The EU-Egypt agreement includes financial support of EUR 7.4 billion paid between 2024 and 2027. Most measures are intended to respond to Egypt's increasing economical problems.
- Egypt, the transit country to the EU, is presently facing a national migration crisis. Problems are compounded by an increased influx of refugees, mainly from Palestine, Syria and Sudan. The EU is trying to prepare for a summertime wave of migration.
- An crucial diplomatic work was done by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgie Meloni, who visited Egypt and Tunisia respective times last year.
- The provisions of the agreement should be considered primarily in terms of prevention alternatively than the implementation of a long-term migration management strategy.
A Joint Declaration on a strategical and Comprehensive Partnership between the arabian Republic of Egypt and the European Union was signed in Cairo on 17 March 2024[1]. The agreement concluded is another after Turkey[2Tunisia3] and Mauritania[4a paper intended to relocate or halt the influx of illegal migrants. The EU continues to apply an externalisation policy for border protection, where the main nonsubjective of the migration management strategy is to focus on stopping it outside the EU. The trend is to increase the importance of the tools for stopping and financing EU neighbouring countries.
"The partnership between the European Union and Egypt is critical. (...) We have common strategical interests in stableness and development. Given the political and economical importance of Egypt and its strategical position in a very troubled neighbourhood, the importance of our relations will grow."
– Ursula von der Leyen
What's the deal?
The EU's three-year largest migration agreement so far provides for a full amount of EUR 7.4 billion[5]. EUR 5 billion is the amount of loans (of which a billion is immediately paid), EUR 1.8 billion is spent on investment and EUR 600 million is spent on another activities. According to the text, EUR 200 million is intended to strengthen borders, including confederate borders. In addition, a full of EUR 105 million is foreseen to prevent illegal migration from the coast of Tunisia, fight smugglers and build a strategy for handling migrants in North Africa[6].
peculiar cooperation is to be covered by the economy, including renewable energy and renewable hydrogen, advanced industrialisation, agriculture, food security, connectivity and digitalisation, water safety (a dependence on the Nile), climate change, migration and security. The EU besides declared its commitment to support the Egyptian improvement Agenda 2030 and the global Investment Conference in 2024. Work is besides foreseen on the Talent Programme, a strategy of permits for entry into the EU[7].
Egyptian Problems
The transfer of European funds should be regarded as an effort to save Egypt's economical situation. The state faces rising abroad debt (from $40 billion in 2014 to $140 billion in 2021[8]), advanced inflation (according to authoritative figures around 30% throughout 2023[9) and pauperisation and rising costs of living. Most economical areas and key businesses are linked to the military environment of president Sisie[10]. Egypt is one more time faced with the consequences of its long-term failure to exploit its economical potential, the limited inflow of abroad capital and the allocation of funds to politically motivated megaprojects[11]. Recently, Egyptian trade has been further disrupted by Huti's activity in Yemen[12].
Egypt is simply a country where key migration routes in the planet intersect. It is an intermediate destination for many people moving to the EU — especially through Tunisia or Turkey [13]. In 2023, according to FRONTEX data, the EU reported the top increase in irregular border crossings on 2 East Mediterranean and Central Mediterranean routes. Values increased by 55% and 49% respectively compared to 2022[14]. It should be remembered that Egypt is facing a "own" migration and humanitarian crisis. economical problems are compounded by an increased influx of refugees, mainly from Palestine, Syria and Sudan[15]. The increase in the number of migrants is besides the consequence of environmental exploitation and climate change, to which Central and east African residents are peculiarly vulnerable. The deficiency of visible prospects for stabilising or improving the situation in the countries from which migrants and refugees are leaving importantly motivates the EU to strengthen border control and further reduce migration flows. She besides referred to the situation in Gaza calling for the ceasefire of Ursula von der Leyen[16].
Conclusion of the agreement and function of Italy
Developing an effective long-term migration management strategy in cooperation with Egypt would be a affirmative solution from an EU perspective. However, this requires a unchangeable partner and transparent terms of cooperation for both parties. The EU is trying to prepare for the forthcoming emergence in migration, the number of migrants and asylum seekers[17]. The coming summer, in light of the forthcoming legislative changes related to the Migration Pact, a probable return to power by Donald Trump and a likely increased representation of anti-migration or skeptical groups in the Europarliament[18Many people may see it as their last chance to enter the Union — even illegally.
Both Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were present in Cairo, which is the representation of the countries most susceptible to the direct effects of uncontrolled migration. Both countries were afraid about the increasing number of refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt (a 480,000 increase in January 2024 by 90 000 as of October 2023)[19[20].
The key work in building the agreement was done by Giorgie Meloni. The leader Fratelli d’Italia visited Egypt twice in the last six months and visited Tunisia 3 times last summer. The Italian Prime Minister recognised the agreement as an chance to give “Africans” the chance to “not emigrate” to Europe. It continued "(an initiative) is the best way to deal with migration flows and we appreciate Egypt's efforts to do so and we search to work together more than before to aid countries of origin and transit countries", through "investment and aid prevent illegal immigration to aid these countries deal with migrant smugglers"[21]. The Prime Minister besides stressed that the agreement concluded was another 1 of Mattei's promoted Plan. The current head of the Italian Government, in its national backyard, was criticised mainly for the deficiency of adequate action to control the influx of migrants[22]. The agreement was concluded respective weeks before the Europarliamentary elections at the time erstwhile the Fratelli d’Italia coalition, i.e. creating a group of utmost anti-migration Lega, tries to improve its position in the polls, radicalizing its demands on EU migration and criticism[23].
Conclusion — Summary
The signed agreement follows Turkey, Tunisia and Mauritania, a paper building cooperation on preventing illegal migration. The money paid between 2024 and 2027 is to be utilized to combat current economical problems, inflation, rising abroad debt, investment and border protection. The EU is trying to apply a policy to address migration in transit and origin. The tendency to increase the importance of a containment tool dominates. The EU's efforts to prepare for the next phase of the deepening migration crisis can be seen.
A number of factors affecting the deadline for its conclusion can be identified. The main reason is simply a crucial increase in the number of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to the EU neighbouring countries. Especially in fresh months. Migration waves are due, among another things, to the effects of the Sudanese civilian War, the economical and migration crisis of Tunisia and the war in Palestine. besides the state of the economy and the hazard of humanitarian breakdown in Egypt, forces president Sisi to at least pretend and express his willingness to cooperate with the EU.
The conclusion of the agreement in the spring of 2024 besides had strict political reasons. The European Parliament elections will be held in June and the European Commission's head will then be elected. Both Ursula von der Leyen and Giorgia Meloni want to item their origin in the management of EU border security, which has become the main subject of the electoral run in many countries[24]. Meloni is trying to form the image of the EU-Africa cooperation promoter. The diplomatic work carried out improves its reputation internationally and affects the perception of its activities by national voters. The Italian Prime Minister is effectively pursuing its intention to strengthen the position of the State and its possible for impact in EU structures[25]. Giorgia Meloni had another chance to advance the Mattei Plan concept internationally. Actions, due to their short-term and ad hoc nature, should be considered primarily in terms of prevention. From an EU interest perspective, it concerns preventing and deterring illegal migration, while for president Sisi it is an crucial economical instrument. Further look at the improvement of EU-Africa cooperation and the effects of the migration pact implemented[26].
Photo:© European Union, 2024/Source: EC – Audiovisual Service/Dati Bendo.
Bibliography
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