On Thursday 14 December, the European Union, African Union and United Nations drew up their first balance sheet of the work undertaken by the working group seeking to facilitate a dignified return for migrants trapped in Libya, as well as the resettlement of those unable to claim asylum in the EU (see EUROPE 11905).
Over a period of just nine days, almost 2,000 people were taken into care in view of organising their repatriation to their countries of origin, explained the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, at the end of the meeting.
A joint declaration explains that 3,100 people have been taken charge of since 28 November, the date when the working group was set up during the AU/EU summit in Abidjan (see EUROPE 11915). All the different parties made a commitment to providing appropriate assistance so that 15,000 more people will be able to voluntarily return to their respective countries by February 2018. In 2016, migrant returns from Libya only involved 2,600 people.
According to the declaration, the first asylum seekers were evacuated in an attempt to make progress with the procedures leading to their resettlement. An additional commitment by member states for the terms of reception is required whilst this operation expands.
The European Commission and member states decided to mobilise an additional €100 million to help increase return and resettlement operations on the ground.
The working group will take action with the Libyan authorities in a way that will help promote unhindered access for the international and non-government organisations to the detention centres. Together with the Libyan authorities this will involve establishing the conditions that will help put an end, once and for all, to the automatic detention regime for migrants seeking to travel to European shores. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)