EU calls for progress on re-admission of migrants by N.African countries

The EU Commission for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said today that the European Union expects progress in the field of re-admission of illegal migrants by North African countries.

Speaking at the opening of a Euro-African conference on migration and development, which is being held in Paris, the commissioner said she was convinced of the significance of the approach of shared responsibility between the countries of origin, transit and destination as well as the need to engage in a strong and balanced dialogue on the entirety of the relevant questions on the management of the migratory flux.

“The North-African neighbourhood countries are interested in visa facilitation as well as the prospects for temporary legal migration, but the European Union also has expectations in the field of re-admission and international protection."

The Paris Conference forms part of the process launched in Rabat in July 2006 at the first Euro-African Conference on migration and development. The Rabat process brings together the European Union Member States and the West African states to promote regional cooperation in the field of migration between countries of origin, transit and destination on a given migration route.

Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for migration, said: "We have made significant progress: the Euro-African dialogue on migration is now a reality. We must now focus on practical action for our commitment to be credible".

The European Commission said the Paris Conference was proof of the way views on migration had changed.

“While the European Union urges its African partners to pursue a responsible policy on the prevention and reduction of illegal migration and on the fulfilment of readmission obligations, this is only one aspect of a global migration policy which also targets better organisation of legal migration and promotion of the link between migration and development in the interests of the country of origin. This global approach to migration is now upheld by both Europe and Africa, despite the difference in their situations and their dissimilar experiences and perceptions of migration.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs said this evening that Malta welcomed these declarations as a step in the right direction in view of the clear path that the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum laid in this regard.

The need to strengthen the mechanisms for the repatriation of failed asylum seekers and the bolstering of co-operation between the European Union and the countries of origin and transit of these people were two of the pillars of this Pact, the spokesman said.

"Furthermore, this development is clear proof that the Commission is engaged in implementing the provisions of the Pact to the full."