EU is looking to Egypt’s help to combat people-smuggling networks. The leaders are already discussing strategies with other African countries to address the core causes of migration-related mortality.
The EU may pursue a new broad collaboration with Egypt that includes steps to reduce irregular migration and disrupt criminal people-smuggling networks.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Bio Wins Sierra Leone Presidential Election
EU policymakers are already looking beyond a planned €1 billion (£860 million) pact with Tunisia to other African nations as part of a larger effort to address the core causes of migration-related fatalities and disappearances.
After a shipwreck off the coast of Greece killed at least 81 passengers, nine Egyptians were arrested on suspicion of people smuggling.
According to summit sources, there was widespread support for the Tunisia agreement, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reminding other European leaders that “Tunisia was an example of what we can do with other countries”
After a visit to Egypt by the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, Josep Borrell, who committed €20 million to help the country support Sudanese refugees, the groundwork for negotiations with Egypt may have already been laid.
Before the prime ministers sat down for the summit meal, Poland, which had already objected to the EU draft migration legislation agreed two weeks ago, made new demands to reopen the legislative process.
It proposed new language that stated, EU migration and asylum policy should be based on the sovereign right of member states to shape their migration policy and decide who they accept on their territory.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: President Tinubu Is Resolving Issues Buhari Dumped –Ladoja
It also stated that it should be up to member states, not the EU, to decide how best to support countries affected by a massive migrant influx.
The EU was hoping to sign off on the new relationship with Tunisia at a summit of leaders in Brussels, but negotiations on the details, which remain contentious, are ongoing.
