by Francesco Matera
It all started with the Tunisia model, when the EU, thanks to the push of the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, found an economic agreement with Tunis to mitigate the phenomenon of migratory flows. Even if the agreement struggled to get started due to the delay in the arrival of the funds, today it is still a virtuous reality to be replicated. In fact, history is repeating itself today also with Egypt given that a large and converging European delegation will travel to Cairo. In addition to the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni there will also be the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Council and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and the Prime Minister Cypriot minister Nikos Christodoulidis.
The aim of the visit is to help Egypt prevent the increase in migratory flows, through an aid package of 7,4 billion euros to be repaid by 2027. Around 3 billion will have to be dedicated to the implementation of economic reforms capable of loosening state and military dependence on national coffers.
Cairo, after the setback on cereal imports from Ukraine, now finds itself in a serious crisis due to the decline in tourism, the export of liquefied natural gas and the expensive transit to Europe. A situation that could lead to default the Egyptian economy with exceptional repercussions on the stability of the entire area given that around 500 thousand refugees are ready to leave for Europe. The fragile Sudanese borders are also at risk, where a human tide could push through Egypt directly towards the Old Continent. A civil war is underway in Sudan between former coup plotters and rebels with around 8 million refugees ready to leave the country tormented by instability. Libya, partly under Russian influence, could also act as a main port towards Europe in Moscow's attempt to destabilize, through migratory flows, Western governments already grappling with the issue of perpetual support for Ukraine.
Italy will also take advantage of the opportunity to sign a series of important bilateral agreements with Egypt, under the pressure of the Mattei Plan for Africa. Agreements aimed at the energy field, infrastructure and food security.
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