Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi emphasised the importance of securing a better future for Africans in their home countries, easing the need for them to escape to Europe.

Ms Mizzi was in Abuja, Nigeria, representing the European Parliament’s Socialist and Democratic Group at the 10th regional meeting of the ACP-EU committee.

“Give young people a future in their own country so that they would not have to flee to Europe in search of a better life,” she said.

“They would not have to escape from their country and face a dangerous journey and it will also mitigate the problem of irregular migration in Europe.”