The European Union on Sunday announced a 7.4 billion euro ($8 billion) aid package for cash-strapped Egypt, amid growing concerns that economic pressures and conflict in neighboring countries could force more migrants into refugee status. announced. coast of europe.
The agreement, which has drawn criticism from human rights groups over Egypt's human rights record, is expected to be signed during the European Commission president's visit on Sunday. Ursula von der Leyen Egyptian officials said the leaders of Belgium, Italy, Austria, Cyprus and Greece also attended.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi met separately with von der Leyen and other European leaders ahead of the signing ceremony on Sunday afternoon.
The aid package includes both grants and loans for the Arab world's most populous country for the next three years, according to the EU mission in Cairo. Most of the funding – 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) – will be macro-financial support, according to a document from the EU delegation to Egypt.
The mission said the two countries have promoted cooperation to the level of a „strategic and comprehensive partnership“, paving the way for greater cooperation between Egypt and the EU in various economic and non-economic fields.
El-Sissi's office said in a statement that the agreement aims to be „a major leap forward in cooperation and coordination between the two countries and the achievement of common interests.“
The EU will provide support to the Egyptian government to strengthen its border with Libya, a key transit point for migrants fleeing poverty and conflict, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. The 27-nation bloc also plans to help the government host Sudanese people who have fled fighting between rival generals in their country for nearly a year. Egypt has hosted more than 460,000 Sudanese since April last year.
The transaction comes amid growing concerns that: Imminent Israeli ground attack Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza's southernmost town of Rafah could be forced into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.of israel-hamas warnow in its sixth month, has seen more than a million people flock to Rafah.
Egypt says it has 9 million migrants, including around 480,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations refugee agency. Many of these migrants have started their own businesses, while others work as street vendors or house cleaners in the large informal economy.
For decades, Egypt has been a haven for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa seeking to escape war and poverty. Egypt is both a destination and a refuge for some, as it is the closest and most accessible country to them. For others, it is a way station before attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe.
Although Egypt's coast is not a major starting point for smugglers and human traffickers sending packed ships across the Mediterranean to Europe, Egypt faces migration pressure from the region and the Israeli-Hamas war has pushed its borders closer to home. Added to this is the immediate threat of spillover beyond the borders. .
The deal would provide a much-needed injection of cash. Egyptian economy hit hard Years of government austerity, the coronavirus pandemic, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraineand recently, Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
reached egypt Agreement with the International Monetary Fund Earlier this month, the relief loan was set to increase from $3 billion to $8 billion after lengthy negotiations. The agreement with the IMF was combined with economic reforms, including a buoyant Egyptian pound and a significant hike in key interest rates.
The EU deal follows the template of recent agreements signed with Tunisia and Mauritania, which pledge funds in return for strengthening their borders. Tunisia and Mauritania were important jumping off points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean to Italy and Spain, respectively, but these countries were also criticized for alleged mistreatment of migrants.
The package drew criticism from international human rights groups over Egypt's human rights record. Amnesty International called on European leaders not to be complicit in human rights abuses occurring in Egypt.
“EU leaders must ensure that the Egyptian authorities adopt clear standards on human rights,” said Yves Geddie, Amnesty International's European agency director. Mr. Gedi pointed to Egypt's restrictions on media and freedom of expression, as well as the crackdown on civil society.
Asked in Brussels earlier this week about the morality of such an agreement, European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer acknowledged that there were problems with all these countries, but nevertheless defended the partnership.
„Yes, we know that there are criticisms related to human rights in those countries and it is clear that this is an issue,“ he told reporters.
“Does that mean we should sever all ties? Will that lead to an improvement in the situation? Or should we cut ties with those countries in order to improve conditions on the ground, both for local people and for migrants coming to those countries? Should we find a way to work with them?'' he said.