During a meeting in Madrid on Thursday 26 July, French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, drew up a joint eight page paper in which they demonstrate their convergence of views on migration. In the document they also provide support again to the concept of migrant debarkation platforms in safe third countries in North Africa and the principle of control centres in the EU. These are the elements upon which they had already reached agreement on 29 June at the European Summit. They are, in this regard, approving the Commission proposals put forward on 24 July (see EUROPE 12051).
The two men said that these control centres “will strengthen European solidarity with the countries of first reception, without encroaching on their responsibility within the Dublin regulation system”. The first country of entry for those who have been rescued and are likely to obtain asylum will effectively remain the country that is subsequently responsible.
The two leaders also highlight “the importance of prioritising the reception and processing of migrants in Europe whilst respecting the principles of responsibility and solidarity”. In this domain, they emphasise the specific case of Aquarius, which enabled the Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides (French Refugee and Stateless Protection Office) to collaborate with the Spanish authorities in an example of European solidarity. They also assert that “in the short term, we are suggesting a temporary mechanism on the basis of ad hoc voluntary cooperation procedure between the member states that has been implemented when taking in migrants debarking from the Lifeline ship”.
The declaration stipulates that the two countries are also prepared “to strengthen their support and cooperation with the countries of origin, transit and destination, particularly Morocco”. They add that “we would like to develop a very high level of cooperation with the African countries irrespective of whether they are countries of origin or transit. This cooperation must include measures relating to economic development common joint security and the fight against human trafficking, as a reflection of the efficient action taken in the Sahel region”.
The regional debarkation platforms will be the subject of a meeting on 30 July in Geneva. EUROPE will be returning to this subject. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)