EU to tackle illegal immigration from Africa
in the Mediterranea Sea on Thursday. BRUSSELS: European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to step up their efforts to curb illegal migration from African countries, with the aim of replicating their success in halting 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 this year.
Italy received 154,000 migrants last year and this year’s figure is likely to be higher. Only on Thursday, more than 1,400 boat migrants were rescued off the coast of Libya, Italy’s coastguard said.
To curb flows along the so-called central Mediterranean route, where thousands of migrants drown every year as they make the dangerous journey, EU is offering trade deals and investment to African countries.
“It is not just about money, it is about improving the capabilities and chances of people in these African countries and to give hope,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on her arrival to the EU summit here.
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. Reuters