Improving economic conditions and proper regulation of exported labour are key in preventing illegal emigration to Europe. Doaa El-Bey investigates the most recent deaths en route to Italy The dreams of over 200 Egyptians who wanted to escape difficult economic conditions at home by finding passage to Europe were destroyed when the vessels carrying them sank early last week. Two ships sank separately near the southern Italian provinces of Siracusa and Calabria, resulting in the death of 22. According to the Foreign Ministry, the first ship left Alexandria with 24 on board, 11 of whom were killed; the second set sail from Libya with 160 Egyptian passengers of whom 11 died. The bodies will be deported back home once they are identified by relatives. The remaining passengers were rescued from the water or were found hiding along the shoreline. Of these, seven are being treated for minor injuries, while the rest were put in refugee centres for 60 days. After that, they will be deported to Egypt according to the Egyptian-Italian bilateral repatriation agreement. Italy was also the destination of a thwarted operation a few days after the accident at sea to smuggle 65 Egyptians into Italy. Most illegal immigrants are victims of their own aspirations for a relatively easy life in Italy, but also the tactics of the smugglers who prey on their desperation and encourage youth to take this step. Some of the victims paid up to LE25,000 for the trip to Italy, a huge sum for most of them. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit visited Italy this week to discuss illegal migration and work opportunities for Egyptians there. While the government asserts that it exerts every effort to stop illegal immigration, Rania Mohamed from the Foreign Ministry's Department for Consulates and Egyptian Expatriates believes, "we need to treat the root of the problem." Namely, provide better living conditions for the people so they don't consider emigrating. "If they want to emigrate, then they should get the needed training and do it via legal channels," Mohamed added. Bilateral accords which allow the repatriation of immigrants is key for regulating immigrant labour. Egypt and Italy signed one in January this year, and since its activation in March some 2,400 immigrants were deported to Egypt. But a protocol among governments is not enough to dry up the flow of illegal immigrants to Europe, especially that migrants are willing to risk their lives to make the journey across the Mediterranean. Mohamed revealed that once in Italy, illegal arrivals conceal their nationality and pretend to be Palestinian or Iraqi without travel documents to avoid being deported. In addition, they refuse to give any information about the organisers of these trips, making it difficult to prosecute the smugglers. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the ministries of interior and defence and coast guard are trying to impose tighter regulations on illegal emigration, as well as raise awareness about the dangers of the practice through leaflets and media programming. It also cooperates with the Ministry of Manpower to train potential migrants. But the problem is not only with illegal Egyptian migration. Italy receives unwelcome guests from several southern Mediterranean and African states, especially war ravaged countries like Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and the Palestinian territories. Every day, the Italian Coast Guard, patrolling the waters off the southern coast of Calabria, sight a new boat of illegal immigrants, including women and children. In fact, Rome is currently debating a new law that would allow it to forcefully repatriate immigrants arriving illegally on Europe's coasts. However, this legislation needs the agreement of all European states and the conclusion of repatriation and cooperation agreements between countries of origin and Europe as a whole. The immigration issue is also expected to top the agenda of the European Union-Africa summit in Lisbon in early December. In a separate development for Egyptian expatriates, Saudi Arabia executed an Egyptian man on Friday convicted of sorcery, adultery and desecrating the Quran by putting it in the bathroom. Human rights activists, who regarded the execution as a sad day for justice in Saudi Arabia, said the man was sentenced to death without explicit solid evidence to prove what was perceived as a violation of law. Egyptian authorities did not comment on the incident.
