The president of the European People's Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, met with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, in Cairo on October 28 and also discussed the migration issue.
"I had an excellent meeting with Al Sisi on the cooperation of the EU and Egypt. The EPP is committed to establishing a new Pact for the Mediterranean to stop illegal migration in the region, to stimulate investments and economic prosperity, to create jobs and safeguard security," wrote on X the president of the EPP, Manfred Weber, following the meeting on 28 October with the Egyptian President, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.
The Egyptian Minister tells Weber that stopping migrants has costs
On the same day, Weber met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdel Atty. In a note posted on the Facebook page of the Egyptian foreign ministry, Badr Abdel Atty underscored "Egypt's successes in stopping the waves of illegal migration toward Europe, not to mention the challenges and the responsibilities that are tied to these efforts."
The meeting "addressed the cooperation between Egypt and the European Union in the field of migration in a global framework that connects the 'migration phenomenon' to development and that tackles the fundamental causes that drive illegal migration," reported the note.
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The Sisi-Weber talks in Cairo confirm their strategic relations
The official spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency declared that the meeting in Cairo between the head of state Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the president of the EPP, Manfred Weber, "was an opportunity to confirm the profound relationship between Egypt and the European Union, which recently brought to a strategic and global partnership (…) reflecting the common long-term shared interest of the two parties."
According to what was referred by a note shared in Cairo, Weber "affirmed the great consideration for Egypt held at European level and the commitment of his Group to bring about policies aimed at strengthening cooperation across all sectors, noting in this context the complex and growing economic relations between the two parties."
"The meeting also addressed the latest developments in the regional situation, for which the European side praised the constant and consolidated role of Egypt in strengthening regional stability and the country's constant efforts to solve the crises in the region", the note added.
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Criticism over EU-Egypt cooperation
In March, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed an agreement in Cairo worth 7.4 billion euros, with 200 million euros allocated specifically for migration management.
A primary objective of the EU's partnership with Egypt is to prevent both Egyptian nationals and other migrants from using Egypt as a transit point to cross the Mediterranean into Europe.
Since 2016, the EU has established similar agreements with countries like Mauritania, Tunisia, and Turkey, which have drawn significant criticism from human rights organizations.
Human Rights Watch condemned the "cash-for-migration-control" agreement with Egypt, arguing that it legitimizes authoritarian practices.
Migrant and human rights advocates express particular concern for Sudanese refugees in Egypt under this new agreement, fearing they may face expulsions by border guards, as seen in Tthey could be subject to expulsions by border guards, as happened in Tunisia.