Vella urges Egypt to provide opportunities to youth so as to ensure stability

Foreign minister George Vella urges Egypt to provide more opportunities to youth, address openings towards civil society and political ctivity 

Foreign affairs minister George Vella urged Egypt to provide more opportunities to its youth, as a means of ensuring stability in the North African country.

“The stability of Egypt is crucial for stability in the region, and an essential element in this respect will be how it will provide opportunities for its young population,” Vella told the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. “At the same time, Egypt needs to address openings towards civil society and political activity. In this connection, Malta supports an open dialogue, which should also take into account Egyptian sensitivities when raising our legitimate concerns. Egypt remains a leader at the forefront of developments in the Middle East and North Africa. This is particularly the case with Libya, where Malta encourages Egypt to contribute constructively as a key mediating player.”

Addressing Libya, Vella warned that the situation in the country cannot be assessed exclusively from a migration perspective.

“The domestic political scenario and the resulting regional repercussions cannot be underestimated. This has to be a Libyan process that includes all sectors of society. The humanitarian situation remains a cause for great concern, and no effort should be spared towards reconciliation. Recent initiatives taken by Libya’s neighbours that are geared at commendable.”
During last week’s Malta Summit, EU leaders agreed on a Malta plan to forge ahead with a €200 million package that includes stopping refugee boats from Libya and intensifying defence operations on the south of the Libyan land border.