EU and Mali sign agreement for the return of migrants

The European Union signed an agreement on 11 December 2016 with Mali's government aimed at enabling the return of migrants who reached Europe’s shores, and whose asylum requests were refused.

This deal was lays the foundations for schemes to help young people find work, and seeks to strengthen the country’s security forces. Mali was expected to step up the fight against people-smugglers while improving their border security.

The agreement was reached in the framework of the outcomes of the Valetta summit on migration, when EU leaders agreed with their African counterparts to set up a €1.8-billion fund to help address the root causes of migration.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Upgrading the EU’s Migration Partnerships http://www.europeansources.info/record/upgrading-the-eus-migration-partnerships/

ESO: Background information: The EU’s migration policy in Africa: five ways forward http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eus-migration-policy-in-africa-five-ways-forward/

Deutsche Welle, 12.12.16: EU, Mali reach deal on repatriation of denied asylum applicants http://dw.com/p/2U7Fp

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