Greece and Europe are under intense migratory pressure from Egypt, causing alarm in the relevant authorities.
To this end, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will travel to Cairo on Sunday, together with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the prime ministers of Italy and Belgium.
The Financial Times reported in a report that the European Union is preparing a €7.4 billion aid package for Egypt, an amount that may be increased in the near future.
The €1 billion is expected to be provided in 2024 to cover short-term needs. Five billion, is for International Monetary Fund programmes, while the remaining 4 billion needs parliamentary approval and is for the period 2025-2027.
Also, 1.8 billion is for investment attraction and 600 million for technical assistance and migration (i.e. border guard training, reception centres, etc.).
The aid package aims to strengthen Egypt and support its economy in order to fortify its border with Libya, where the bulk of migratory flows originate.
At the same time, the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan have raised the alarm in Europe, as they are likely to exacerbate economic problems and increase migratory pressures.
1,500 arrivals in Crete in the last quarter
The problem directly affects Greece. Figures show that in the last quarter, migrant arrivals on the island reached 1,500.
Last weekend, more than 220 migrants arrived, with most of them coming from Libya.
In fact, they say that on their country’s coastline, some 20,000 of their compatriots are waiting to travel to the island, which is at the heart of the migration corridor.
“They have turned our island into a gateway, in the last ten days culminating last weekend, the evil has become too much and I believe this was logical because of the improvement in weather conditions,” Nikos Syrigonakis, deputy regional governor of the Heraklion Unity, told ERT.
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According to him, “as time passes and the summer period comes, we will have an increase in these flows.”
“When you look to the west, it’s Libya.
When you look to the south, it’s Sudan, it’s Eritrea.
And so Egypt’s strategic position, with a population of 80 million, as well as its development is very important.
Egypt absorbs a lot of migration from the African continent. So there are so many reasons for us to work together,” said European Commission spokesman Peter Stano.
He added that the European Union has considered Egypt an important partner for 20 years, recalling the 20th anniversary of the Association Agreement.
