BRUSSELS: The European Union’s rights watchdog on Tuesday voiced concern about the bloc’s new $8.03 billion deal with Egypt that includes provisions to restrict migration, saying it falls short on safeguards of human rights.
The 27-nation europe has signed similar pacts with Turkiye, Mauritania, Tunisia, and other nations since 2016 as it seeks to control irregular arrivals. Rights groups have denounced those pacts as ignoring humanitarian law.
Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly said the issue of human rights should be addressed before finalizing any such partnership.
During a news conference she said an investigation into a similar EU deal with Tunisia sealed last year will soon be launched.
According to the UN data about 34,000 people have entered the EU, a wealthy bloc of some 450 million people, mostly from, the Mediterranean last year.
That compares to a 2015 high of more than one million arrivals, mostly of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, which gave a surprise to the European governments. The chaos triggered an increase in anti-immigration rhetoric across the European Union.
The EU is expected to continue with its efforts to stop irregular immigration from the Middle East and Africa, especially as migration is a key issue for voters in the run-up to European Parliament elections in June this year.
