Ashraf AboArafe
On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Mr. Erik van der Berg, Dutch Minister of State for Immigration, during his visit to Cairo with the aim of consulting on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between Egypt and the Netherlands in the field of immigration.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the meeting witnessed a confirmation of the joint keenness of both sides to strengthen bilateral cooperation relations between Egypt and the Netherlands, especially in the field of immigration, and to move them to broader horizons, and to build on the existing fruitful cooperation between them in the fields of immigration. Combating illegal immigration and human trafficking. The meeting also touched on various aspects of cooperation between Egypt and the European Union in the field of immigration, and ways to develop and advance it, based on the distinguished relations that Egypt has with the European Union and its various countries, and the pioneering role of Egypt and its important partnership with the European Union in this field.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that Minister Shukri was keen during the meeting to review Egypt’s positions and tireless efforts to enhance cooperation with European countries in the field of immigration in order to achieve a qualitative addition to the international efforts made in this field. He also reviewed the great Egyptian efforts and successes in the field of combating illegal immigration and human trafficking, which were reflected in the absence of any case of illegal immigration leaving the Egyptian coast since 2016. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that these successes were a translation of a pioneering Egyptian vision that dealt with these phenomena through a comprehensive approach that addresses their social, economic, and developmental roots, by creating job opportunities for young people, raising awareness of the dangers of these phenomena and the available regular immigration opportunities, and providing technical support through training programs. . Minister Sameh Shoukry was also keen to review Egypt’s efforts in hosting about 9 million refugees and immigrants of different nationalities and its keenness to provide them with all basic services on an equal basis with Egyptian citizens.
In a related context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the momentum witnessed in cooperation at the bilateral level with the Netherlands in the field of migration, noting the importance of accelerating the implementation of the migration agreement signed between the two countries in 2021, which addresses all dimensions related to migration governance from a comprehensive perspective that includes addressing the root causes leading to illegal migration. legitimacy, facilitating the movement of labor, and facilitating voluntary return and reintegration, which qualifies it to be a role model for bilateral cooperation in the field of migration. Minister Shoukry also affirmed Egypt’s readiness to provide skilled and trained Egyptian workers to meet the needs of European labor markets, including the Netherlands.
For his part, the Dutch Minister of Immigration praised the prominent Egyptian efforts in the areas of immigration, especially in combating illegal immigration and controlling borders, stressing the Netherlands’ interest in developing and strengthening cooperation frameworks with Egypt to support Egyptian efforts to confront the phenomenon and address its various dimensions, explaining that this will also benefit the Netherlands. He also expressed his country’s readiness to cooperate with Egypt to enhance its capabilities to confront the phenomenon and its root causes, as well as to enhance cooperation in the field of technical and vocational training to improve young people’s opportunities to obtain jobs.
The official spokesman concluded his statements by saying that the two ministers stressed at the end of the meeting the importance of intensifying joint efforts to combat the phenomenon of illegal immigration and deal with its various dimensions, in a way that achieves the interests of the two countries in this field.
