FPÖ rages: billions for Egypt instead of for domestic problems!

FPÖ rages: billions for Egypt instead of for domestic problems!

Degotiators of the European Parliament and the EU countries have approved billions of financial aid for Egypt, which are intended to support nation in a serious economic crisis. A total of up to four billion euros are to be provided in order to cope with economic problems. The payment is made in several tranches that are linked to specific editions. Egypt has 35 years to repay the loans. However, the formal confirmation of the agreement is still pending and must be approved by the European Parliament and the EU countries, reported OE24.at .

The billion dollar aid is part of a strategic partnership that was closed with Egypt in March 2024. This partnership pursues two main goals: the containment of unwanted migration as well as increased economic and political cooperation between Egypt and the EU. In particular, the irregular migration should be reduced from the Libyan coast to Europe, with the pressure increasing due to rising refugee numbers in Europe, especially in Greece. Migrants from Egypt more choose new routes that lead to Crete via the Libyan Tobruk, as the Deutschlandfunk reports.

criticism of help and human rights situation

The agreement met with strong criticism from various political camps. The EU MP Harald Vilimsky from the FPÖ expressed concerns and demanded that the generous funds should be better invested in Member States. He advocates the return of financial support to the EU countries instead of transferring them to Egypt. This criticism is underpinned by the burgeoning concerns about the human rights situation in Egypt, which are also expressed by refugee organizations such as Pro Asylum.

The EU plans to support Egypt with around 7.4 billion euros by the end of 2027 - a sum that not only includes loans, but also grants. The majority, around 5 billion euros, is scheduled for loans, while 1.8 billion euros are intended for investments in nutritional security and digitization. In addition, 600 million euros are planned for grants, of which 200 million euros are reserved for migration management, so Tageschau.de .

In view of the geopolitical situation in the region, in particular instability, which results from the war between Israel and Hamas, Egypt is facing further challenges. This situation has negative effects on tourism and natural gas imports, and the country is struggling with difficulties in procuring foreign exchange. All of this contributes to the increasing emigration of Egyptian citizens and reinforces the urgency of EU aids.