Egypt, France Sign Declaration of Intent on Migration Cooperation

Egypt and France signed a declaration of intent on migration cooperation on Monday, marking a new step in bilateral efforts to address migration challenges as part of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The signing ceremony was attended by Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who described the agreement as an important milestone in Egyptian-French cooperation on irregular migration and a practical step toward implementing the strategic partnership launched during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Egypt in April 2025.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abdelatty said the declaration would open new avenues for cooperation through a comprehensive and balanced approach to migration that goes beyond border management and the return of irregular migrants to address the root causes of migration, particularly economic and social challenges.

He welcomed France's commitment to strengthening cooperation in higher education, vocational training, skills development and job creation, saying such initiatives could help reduce the factors driving irregular migration while supporting sustainable development.

The foreign minister also highlighted the pressures Egypt faces as a host country for large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers, noting that their presence places additional demands on national resources and public services. He stressed the importance of greater international solidarity and fair burden-sharing in addressing migration-related challenges.

Abdelatty further pointed to what he described as the success of Egypt's comprehensive national approach to combating irregular migration and migrant smuggling. He said the policy had prevented the departure of irregular migration boats from Egypt's Mediterranean coast to Europe in recent years, reflecting Cairo's commitment to border security and regional stability.

The declaration comes as Egypt and France continue to deepen cooperation across a range of sectors under their strategic partnership framework, with migration remaining a key area of coordination between North African and European countries.