huge labor shortage problemwhich causes a number of even more serious problems, attempts to solve government ahead of this season, which is somehow due to energy crisis especially burdened financially. In this context, the Greek Government, and in particular the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis undertook, at the direction of the Prime Minister, to conclude an agreement with Egypt which has been under consideration since 2021 and concerns the redeployment of seasonal land workers. The Deputy Foreign Minister then summoned the Egyptian Ambassador to a meeting and asked for an answer as soon as possible. At a meeting held in June 2022, the Egyptian Ambassador informed Mr. Varvitsiotis that the Egyptian comments on the draft text were ready and would be formally forwarded to the Greek side, which was done immediately.

The Greek side reviewed the text and a final agreement was reached. The initial headcount was for 2,000 land workers, but finally, in the context of a recent inter-ministerial meeting led by Mr. Mitsotakis, it was decided to increase the projected number of seasonal land workers in the first pilot year of the agreement to 5,000, with a planned stay limit of 9 months during the year, which I mention in passing, is the maximum given European Union. In other words, each land worker will receive a residence permit with the obligation of the beneficiary to return to their country of origin by providing a valid contract for seasonal work prior to their departure to Greece. Now it only remains for the Egyptian side to set a date for signing the final text of the agreement in Cairo in the coming weeks.

The need for manpower is so great that before Mr. Varvitsiotis began contacts with the Egyptian Embassy in Greece last summer, this issue was discussed at the highest level, as Mr. Mitsotakis himself raised it with the President of Egypt, Mr. Sissi . This was followed, as expected, by many meetings between the Deputy Minister and the Egyptian Ambassador to Greece, in the presence of the Minister of Rural Development. Giorgos Georgantaswhich also plays a key role in contacts.

However, an agreement on 5,000 Egyptian farmers who are expected to arrive in Greece in an organized manner is not a comprehensive solution to the problem. Data as it is transmitted ink” The official factor of the Ministry of Rural Development shows that Greece needs 50,000 workers, a number that the minimum can fall to meet basic needs is 30,000. In this context, the model that is ready for implementation with Egypt, the Greek government wants to “spread” to other states.

In August, the vice-president of the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives passed by. Christos Yannakakis, traveled to Vietnam, another country that can provide labor. There are also contacts with India, because in any case, land workers from India come all at once and try to do it systematically and “massively”. Negotiations are under way with two countries for at least 5,000 land workers per country, while the Philippines has also been added to the contacts. The needs are great, as there is a shortage of labor in both construction and tourism. Therefore, the same model can be applied to other sectors as well. From the Greek side, the agreement with Egypt is considered an example of cooperation with the EU. with third countries, as it is of great importance in the fight against illegal immigration.