Egypt, Greece Enhance Cooperation on Migration and Asylum

On Thursday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an extensive dialogue session with Dimitris Keridis, the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, along with his accompanying delegation. The meeting, held in Cairo, focused on strengthening cooperation in legal migration and tackling the challenges of illegal migration.

Key participants from Egypt included Ambassador Ismail Khairat, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad; Ambassador Khaled Ammara, Assistant Minister for European Affairs; Ambassador Nayla Gabr, head of the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Human Trafficking; and Ambassador Wael Badawi, Deputy Assistant Minister for Migration and Refugees. The session centered on facilitating the legal migration of seasonal Egyptian workers to the Greek labor market and addressing illegal migration routes.

During the discussions, Ambassador Khairat emphasized Egypt's commitment to training skilled laborers to meet the demands of the Greek, as well as broader European and international markets. He highlighted the successful implementation of the 2022 seasonal labor agreement, which has bolstered bilateral relations. Ambassador Ammara discussed the comprehensive approach needed to address illegal migration, urging European partners to support Egypt’s development efforts, which are instrumental in managing migration effectively.

Ambassador Gabr outlined the contributions of the National Coordinating Committee in fighting illegal migration and human trafficking. She stressed the committee's efforts in improving vocational education and developing frameworks to reintegrate returning workers. Gabr called for continued support from the European Union and its member states to strengthen Egypt's legal and executive mechanisms for migration management.

From the Greek side, Minister Keridis acknowledged Egypt’s central role in addressing regional crises and expressed Greece’s interest in expanding the intake of Egyptian labor, particularly in agriculture, with potential expansions into tourism and construction sectors. He announced plans to soon launch an online platform to facilitate the employment of Egyptian citizens in the Greek labor market, signaling Egypt's prioritized status in Greece's strategy for foreign labor recruitment.

Minister Keridis also praised Egypt's efforts in reducing illegal migration, noting the visible positive outcomes in recent times. He affirmed Greece’s readiness to enhance bilateral cooperation and support Egypt through existing frameworks between Egypt and the European Union.