The European Commission published, on Tuesday 6 June, an Action Plan for the Western Mediterranean and the Atlantic, following those presented at the end of 2022 for the Central Mediterranean and the Western Balkans route.
Presented by the European Commissioner for Migration, Ylva Johansson, the Action Plan aims to put the situation of migratory flows on this route on a permanent footing, flows that are “under control” after sharp rises in 2020 and 2021, “thanks to Morocco”.
A cooperation that needs to continue, particularly through the Frontex agency, which will also be increasing its partnerships with Mauritania and Senegal, explained the Commissioner. Particular emphasis should be placed on improving voluntary return rates and strengthening financial support.
The Action Plan is based on 18 measures aimed, among other things, at preventing irregular departures. The first pillar covers dialogue with partner countries in the fight against human trafficking.
To this end, a new regional programme will be launched with Morocco. As far as border management is concerned, the Action Plan provides for strengthening the capacity of Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and the Gambia to implement targeted measures to prevent irregular departures, by promoting greater bilateral cooperation between Frontex and Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, explains a press release. The Action Plan reiterates the Commission’s intention to promote legal channels to the EU, between resettlement, humanitarian admission or complementary channels.
“Advance on the operationalisation of the Talent Partnership with Morocco” is a priority, adds the press release on the legal migration component. The Commission is also currently assessing “the feasibility of launching Talent Partnerships with Nigeria and Senegal” on legal migration and mobility projects.
The second pillar covers the improvement of search and rescue operations (which the action plan does not detail), cooperation between EU Member States on returns to partner countries and the voluntary migrant relocation programme from which Spain can benefit.
Facilitators
On the same day, the Commission published a ‘toolbox’ to address transport operators that engage in or facilitate trafficking in persons or smuggling of migrants. It calls on the Member States to implement the proposed regulation in 2021 to penalise these operators, to introduce better prevention with early warning systems and to enter into dialogue with third countries and transport companies.
Links to the action plan and toolbox: https://aeur.eu/f/793 ; https://aeur.eu/f/797 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)