"Germany and Egypt are both very much interested in preventing migrants from setting off illegally on the hazardous voyage across the Mediterranean to Europe, now and in future," said government spokesperson Steffen Seibert on Monday at the government press conference in Berlin. The common goal of Germany and Egypt, he continued, "is to protect lives and combat illegal migration and criminal human trafficking".

Far-reaching package of measures agreed

The agreement signed is a package of measures that embrace a variety of migration-policy elements, including closer economic cooperation and German support for Egypt’s education sector in order to effectively address the root causes of migration.

The agreement also aims to support refugees and host communities in Egypt, as well as cooperating on activities to fight criminal human trafficking and to improve border controls. Education and information campaigns addressing illegal migration are to be launched. The two governments intend to cooperate even more effectively on the repatriation and voluntary return of Egyptians from Germany to their home country.

In future more grants are to be made available to Egyptians studying in Germany and to refugees in Egypt who aim to study there.

Focus on improving people’s situation

The agreement concluded on Sunday (27 August) provides for concrete measures designed to improve the everyday situation of many people in Egypt. They include the creation of traineeships and jobs for Egyptians and increased support for refugees in Egypt, as government spokesperson Steffen Seibert explained.

The two governments are also to work together to establish a Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration. The new centre is to advise Egyptians and refugees on the legal migration options open to them, including migration within the scope of training and professional upgrading.

Education campaign to warn of the dangers of illegal migration

Over and above this, Egypt will work with UNHCR on an education and information campaign that will warn about the dangers of illegal migration. Germany and Egypt held various rounds of negotiations over a period of several months, with a number of federal ministries involved, before the agreement was finally signed.

At the beginning of March, during a visit to Cairo, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that Germany and Egypt would be extending cooperation in the field of development cooperation too, through a structured dialogue between the foreign offices of the two countries.