European and African leaders agree moves to curb migration

FRANCE, Germany, Italy and Spain have offered to support Libyan coastguards and help Chad and Niger with border control to stem migration to Europe.

At a summit in Paris they also agreed on a new policy to grant asylum to vulnerable migrants who apply for protection while in Africa instead of their destination countries.

Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel met with the Italian and Spanish leaders as well as those of Chad, Niger and Libya – all three of them transit countries for migrants.

In a joint statement, they said that it was “important to equip and train in an adequate manner Libyan coastguards” while emphasising the importance of “protecting human rights” of desperate migrants squeezed into rickety boats in the direction of Italy.

Although the number of migrants reaching Italy from Libya by sea dropped by nearly 70 per cent in July and August compared with the same months last year, it is felt the numbers could easily rise again without further measures. There has been a small increase in flows from Morocco to Spain.

The four EU leaders also promised to bolster support to Chad and Niger in controlling their borders, “notably in the north with Libya”.

After the summit, Mrs Merkel said that European countries must clearly define who is in humanitarian need and who is fleeing poverty.

She said it was “very, very important” that the possibility of resettlement is coupled “with an end to illegal migration”. Europe had a “humanitarian responsibility” to crack down on smugglers who profit from migrants’ desperation, she added.

Hours before the summit, Mrs Merkel stole a march on Mr Macron by announcing a deal to fight illegal migration with Egypt. The pair are vying for leadership on migration as both face decisive battles back home. Mrs Merkel is fighting for re-election while Mr Macron needs to prove he is building a “Europe that protects” after a poll suggested the majority of the French disapprove of his presidency.

Steffen Seibert, Mrs Merkel’s spokesman, said the Egypt deal would “fight illegal immigration and the criminal smuggling of people”.