The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum in Athens.
Youssef congratulated the Minister of Immigration on his new position, emphasising the embassy's commitment and readiness to continue bilateral cooperation to serve the Egyptian community in Greece.
He also emphasised that the embassy will work closely with Greek authorities to resolve any legal issues affecting Egyptian citizens in Greece or Egyptian workers. Furthermore, Youssef asserted that the embassy prioritises safeguarding the rights of Egyptian citizens and labour in Greece by exhorting adherence to the rules and laws governing labour recruitment.
Such adherence avoids any risks to the lives of Egyptian citizens and workers that might result from irregular migration, he noted.
In return, Plevris confirmed that Greece intends to expand the scope of the seasonal labour agreement to include the construction and tourism sectors.
He noted that Egyptian labour is the most qualified and suitable workforce for the Greek business sector. In addition,
Plevris emphasised the depth of Egyptian-Greek relations and his deep appreciation for Egypt's position and role in maintaining security and stability in the region.
During the meeting, the two sides praised the high level of existing bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Greece. They thoroughly discussed the issue of irregular migration and the efforts to enhance returns, one of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum's major priorities.
Plevris informed Youssef of the need for more effective cooperation in the field of returns as a prerequisite for further strengthening legal migration.
He explained to him that a team from the Greek Ministry of Immigration and Asylum is currently in Egypt to continue the technical dialogue on strengthening the bilateral agreement on the legal transfer of agricultural workers.
At the end of the meeting, Egypt's ambassador extended an official invitation to the Minister of Immigration and Asylum to visit Cairo, which Plevris accepted, to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in migration management.
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