Eu Leaders Agree To Curb Illegal Migration From African Countries

SAN FRANCISCO, October 21, (THEWILL) – European Union leaders have agreed to curb illegal migration from African countries with the aim of replicating their success to halt inflows from Turkey over the past year.

While migrants reaching Greece from Turkey have dropped to a trickle after a deal with Ankara in March, arrivals in Italy from Africa are increasing so far in 2016.

NAN reports that the EU is offering trade deals and investment to African countries in order to curb flows along the so-called central Mediterranean route, where thousands of migrants drown every year as they make the dangerous journey.

“It is not just about money, it is about substantially improving the capabilities and the chances of people in these African countries and to give hope,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on her arrival to the EU summit in Brussels.

In exchange for financial support EU leaders require their African partners to impose tighter border controls and to take back illegal migrants.

“More efforts are needed to stem the flows of irregular migrants, in particular from Africa, and to improve return rates,” said the joint statement on migration, agreed by EU leaders.

Leaders gave their backing to plans devised by the EU Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, to initially use the new approach with five African countries: Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal and Ethiopia.

“First results of these plans will be presented by Mogherini at next EU summit in December, with a view to extend the approach to other countries,” the report said.

While planning increased controls at Europe's external borders, EU countries are also discussing plans to fully dismantle temporary border controls that were introduced among European states during the migration crisis in 2015, when more than one million migrants reached the continent.

But the compromise text was watered down from an initial version that promised to progressively get back to a fully border-free area, known as Schengen.

According to the final agreement reached at the summit in Brussels, border controls will be removed to reflect the current needs.

Story by Oputah David