Alternate Minister of International Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis’ conversation at the session of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Nationwide Defence and Foreign Affairs on the ratification of the Contract on the Employment of In season Workers in the Agricultural Sector between Greece and Egypt -main points (10. one 2023) “The Intergovernmental Agreement between Greece and Egypt for your employment of 5000 in season agricultural workers puts the particular brakes on illegal immigration. It is a model of legal and regulated migration, which displays the way for Europe and may serve as a guide with other 3rd countries”, emphasized Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis today, speaking on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Defence and International Affairs during the debate in the draft law for the ratification of the Agreement on the Work of Seasonal Workers in the Agricultural Sector between A holiday in greece and Egypt.
Specifically, Mr. Varvitsiotis, who authorized the agreement in Cairo last November, so that 5, 000 agricultural workers from Egypt come to Greece, mentioned that with this agreement “we put an end to the trafficking of illegal migrants and near the opportunities for exploitation of those who are in the country illegally”. In particular, this agreement safeguards human rights and determines a legal regime, as employees will be registered, will generate legal wages, have assured living and feeding situations and enjoy all labour rights, such as insurance and medical care.
Mr. Varvitsiotis stated that the country is nor adopting an anti-migration policy nor will it adopt a borders policy, “because this would open the backdoor, as with 2015, and our nation would basically cancel what has achieved over the last four years, namely the defense of its borders and the hold of illegal migrants. This was, after all, the fundamental mandate provided to the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis by the Greek people”, he pointedly said.
In addition, the Alternate Minister attached particular importance to the transnational nature of the agreement, observing that it enables our nation to hold high-level talks with third countries of origin which will be responsible for the selection of the workers and cannot refuse their return if the workers violate the conditions of their stay here.
Mister. Varvitsiotis made special notice of Greek-Egyptian relations, describing Egypt as a country of particular significance for Ancient greek foreign policy, with a essential role in the stability associated with Libya and more broadly within the Southeastern Mediterranean, with which A holiday in greece has historical ties and it has already signed two essential agreements (on the delimitation of the EEZ and on the particular delimitation of the search and rescue areas). “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides engaged in these negotiations, specifically because we believe that our own relations with Egypt are particularly important and should end up being expanded”, underlined the Alternative Minister, adding that this agreement will serve as a model, leaving behind open the possibility of concluding comparable agreements with other countries or even in other sectors of the economy.
Lastly, the Alternate Minister underscored that with this agreement Greece presents Europe with a functioning model of migration policy – namely those of the legal transfer associated with workers – thus adding to the debate that Europe will soon engage in about the new Pact on Immigration and Asylum.
