Chancellor in Cairo

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Chancellor Karl Nehammer with Egypt's President Al-Sisi(Bild: Florian Schroetter)

Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and other EU heads of government, such as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, signed a migration pact with Egypt on Sunday. In return for 7.4 billion euros in economic aid, the country in North Africa is combating illegal migration by strengthening border protection.

"The migration agreement with Egypt will make readmissions much easier," said Federal Chancellor Nehammer, summing up the meeting between the EU leaders and Egypt's President al-Sisi, "if only because the police authorities can short-circuit each other".

Nehammer also described al-Sisi as a reliable helper in the efforts to secure the release of the Austrian hostage in the Gaza Strip. However, Hamas is not releasing any further information on the fate of the hostages.

Federal Chancellor Nehammer at the refugee summit(Bild: Florian Schroetter)

The Chancellor credits himself with breaking the ice with his visit to President al-Sisi in April last year, and with his first step was able to move the EU partners towards an "agreement on an equal footing for mutual benefit". The agreement focuses on supporting legal migration routes and combating irregular migration by strengthening border management in Egypt and sustainable return. The EU states are planning economic investments of up to 7.4 billion euros by 2027. 600 million for migration-specific projects such as refugee support and border protection. Five billion as a loan for the economically hard-hit country. 1.8 billion will be made available for investments in infrastructure, for example.

Von der Leyen and Al-Sisi sign the refugee deal(Bild: Florian Schroetter)

Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, with the heads of government Mitsotakis (Greece), Von der Leyen (EU Commission), Al-Sisi (Egypt), Christodoulidis (Cyprus), De Croo (Belgium) and Meloni (Italy)(Bild: Florian Schroetter)

Egypt is a country of reception, transit and origin for around 8 million migrants. Although the country on the Nile has effectively closed its Mediterranean border to smuggling organizations, many from Egypt enter Europe via eastern Libya.

Chancellor Nehammer after the meeting in Cairo: "Only agreements that are profitable for both sides will work. That is precisely why this agreement with Egypt is essential for Europe's security. In addition to migration, it also covers other important areas of cooperation."

The refugee route across the Mediterranean is dangerous(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Chancellor
 wants to "break taboos"on illegal migration According to the Chancellor, the Egypt deal is an important step, but in the fight against illegal migration, we in the EU must pull out all the stops, break taboos and break new ground: "The goal must be that asylum procedures can be carried out in safe third countries and deportations can be carried out there."