Brussels, 02/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - A delegation of MEPs that went to Mali recently underlined after the visit how necessary it was to increase confidence in North-South cooperation with regard to migration, and how huge the Mali diaspora was. The EP delegation composed of Agustin Díaz de Mera (EPP, Spain) and Tanja Fajon (S&D, Slovenia) went to Mali on 26 and 27 May to meet the Mali authorities. While there, they visited the Centre d'information et de gestion des migrations (CIGEM) established in cooperation with the EU. “The CIGEM is a pilot experiment that deserves to be kept in place but revised. It must be kept in place as it is very useful for the Republic of Mali and generates synergies with Europe”, Diaz de Mera said. “The CIGEM is not a Frontex based in Mali”, he added, pointing out, however, that it does suffer from a problem of trust on the part of the Mali authorities. In his view, the CIGEM's strength lies in the fact that it involves the civil society. Diaz de Mera also underlined the fact that the diaspora was of particular importance for the development of Mali, underlining the interest of the TOKTEN project (Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals) in Mali. This initiative allows highly qualified immigrant Mali nationals to have the possibility of transposing their knowledge to their own country especially in teaching, agriculture, health and small and medium-sized enterprises. (B.C./transl.jl)