http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-aid-principles-will-be-a-thing-of-the-past-under-new-african-migrant-deal/
EU aid principles will be a ‘thing of the past’ under new African migrant deal
Home | Global Europe | News
By Cécile Barbière | EurActiv.fr | Translated By Samuel White
Oct 21, 2016 (updated: Oct 21, 2016)
By Cécile Barbière | EurActiv.fr | Translated By Samuel White
Oct 21, 2016 (updated: Oct 21, 2016)
EU leaders want to make it easier to return failed asylum applicants to Africa.
Extending the Turkish “cash for migrants” scheme to five African
countries will mark a turning point for European aid policy, which has
previously been dependent on the principles of democracy and human
rights. EurActiv France reports.
Under the EU’s cooperation framework with developing countries, aid
payments depend on the respect of certain broad principles, such as
the respect of human rights and the rule of law. The bloc has often
suspended aid to authoritarian regimes and countries in democratic
crisis, like Burundi.
But faced with the strain of the migration crisis and the need to
encourage African countries to improve their readmission policies for
refused asylum seekers, this principle is under threat.
EU leaders on Thursday (20 October) agreed to forge deals with
Nigeria, Niger, Ethiopia, Senegal and Mali to provide aid in return
for increased cooperation in stemming the flow of migrants to Europe.
“Conditionality is a thing of the past,” a diplomat said at Thursday’s
Council summit, adding that Europe’s priorities were “not necessarily
the same as those of our partner countries”.
While the migration deal has worked in Turkey, it may prove more
difficult to implement in Africa, where the EU’s principles are not
always respected.
Ethiopia’s government, one of the EU’s partners in these new migration
deals, is often criticised over its human rights record. And Eritrea,
one of the most authoritarian states in the world, could also receive
EU cash in return for efforts to curb illegal migration under the new
plans.
In summit conclusions, European leaders said, “More efforts are needed
to stem the flows of irregular migrants, in particular from Africa,
and to improve return rates.”
The Turkish example
While illicit arrivals from Turkey have fallen since the
implementation of the migration deal in March, those from Africa are
rising.
French President François Hollande said, “We have seen that the
agreement with Turkey has worked. Today the process is, as far as is
possible, under control.”
“We have confirmed the programme with five priority countries
(Nigeria, Niger, Ethiopia, Senegal and Mali). The €2 billion set aside
at the Valetta summit [for the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa] will
be made available,” Hollande added.
Readmission quotas
The 28 heads of state and government demanded swift action on the
deals. EU High Representative Federica Mogherini will present her
initial evaluation of the five migration pacts at December’s Council
summit, including “the first results concerning arrivals and returns”.
Once this step is complete, several other countries could be added to
the aid conditionality programme, including Egypt, Pakistan,
Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Many migrants from these countries have
their asylum applications refused.
Received on Sun Oct 23 2016 - 10:51:11 EDT