EU aims ‘to forge real Euro-African partnership’ during Valletta Summit

European Council President Donald Tusk aims “to forge a real Euro-African partnership” on migration during the summit of European and African leaders taking place in Malta in two weeks.

Addressing the European Parliament on Tuesday, Tusk said that the heads of state and government will aim at exploring possibilities for developing safe and sustainable reception capacities in the affected regions and providing lasting prospects and adequate procedures for refugees and their families, including through access to education and jobs, until return to their country of origin is possible.

“We will ask Member States to further contribute to the efforts made to support UNHCR, the World Food Programme and other agencies, as well as to support the EU's Regional Trust Fund responding to the Syria crisis and the EU Trust Fund for Africa,” Tusk told MEPs.

Maltese NGOs working close with refugees and asylum seekers expressed their disappointment that civil society will not be able to make its voice heard during the summit. The NGOs have argued that civil society is “the one on the ground, feeding, sheltering and getting things done”.

The EU, Tusk said, is focusing “on effective return and readmission, dismantling of criminal networks and prevention of illegal migration, accompanied by real efforts to tackle root causes and to support the African socio-economic -development together with a commitment concerning continued possibilities for legal migration”.

In reply to questions in parliament, the European Commission said it was not planning to establish ‘asylum centres’ in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, or in some other neighbouring country to process applications for asylum in the EU outside the EU territory.

“The EU is funding a pilot multi-purpose centre which will be set up in Niger by the end of the year. Working with the IOM, the UNHCR and the Niger authorities, the centre will combine the provision of information, local protection and resettlement opportunities for those in need. This centre will not process applications for asylum in the EU,” the Commission said in its reply.

“With the same objective, the Commission is envisaging the possibility of setting up migrant resource information centres in the countries of North Africa and the Horn of Africa in the context of the Regional Development Protection Programmes (RDPPs). The aim of the RDPPs is to support the capacity of the countries in those regions in managing the challenges of mixed migratory flows, to develop their own functioning national protection system and to support those in need of international protection. This does not include the possibility to make applications for asylum in the EU in a country where an RDPP is implemented.”

Russian bombing attacks in Syria: more than 100,000 refugees created

According to Tusk, Russian bombing attacks in Syria have created more than 100,000 new refugees from Aleppo and nearby regions.

Reiterating his warning that “the situation will get even worse”, Tusk said it was important to protect external borders.

“We do not yet have an agreement on how to do it in operational terms but at least leaders share the view that our priority must be to protect the EU's external borders.”

Tusk said a deal with Turkey would only make sense if it helps stem the migratory flows to Europe: “This cooperation will not be easy. We should have no illusion than any third country, including Turkey, can replace us in protecting our borders.”

Eleven hotspots in Greece and Italy should be fully operational by the end of November. The deadline is a highly ambitious one given that the European agencies have less than half of what they need. Talks are still in progress on the functions of the hot spots.