Valletta summit on migration decides on action plan

The Valletta summit on migration brought together European and African Heads of State and Government in an effort to strengthen cooperation and address the current challenges but also the opportunities of migration.

It recognised that migration is a shared responsibility of countries of origin, transit and destination. EU and Africa worked in a spirit of partnership to find common solutions to challenges of mutual interest.

Leaders participating tot he summit have adopted a political declaration and an action plan designed to:

– address the root causes of migration by working to help create peace, stability and economic development;
– enhance cooperation on legal migration and mobility;
– reinforce the protection of migrants and asylum seekers, particularly vulnerable groups;
– tackle more effectively the exploitation and trafficking of migrants;
– work more closely to improve cooperation on return and readmission.

The Action Plan is built around five priority domains. Its actions are part of one package and will be implemented in full coherence with countries’ sovereignty, national legislations and taking into account national specificities. Sixteen priority initiatives will be launched before the end of 2016.

The existing mechanisms of the Rabat Process, the Khartoum Process and of the Joint EU- Africa Strategy will be used to monitor implementation. In doing so, lessons learned from many actions which have been launched successfully with partners like Cabo Verde, Morocco and Niger will be duly taken into account. The next Khartoum and Rabat process Senior Officials Meetings to be organised by end 2015 will agree on the best way for each of the processes to follow up and monitor the progress made in the implementation of this Action Plan. The state of play of the implementation of the Action Plan will also be regularly on the agenda of the meetings organised in the framework of the Africa-EU Strategy as well as our bilateral political dialogues and a dedicated Senior Officials Meeting to be held no later than January 2017.

To support the implementation of the Action Plan, the EU, its Member States and associated countries will use their relevant financial instruments available for cooperation with African partners in line with their legal and financing frameworks. Substantial EU funds are available to implement actions in the areas prioritised by this Action Plan. The EU, its Member States and associated countries will step up efforts to mainstream migration into their development cooperation. In parallel, the newly established EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa will provide additional funding and will contribute to a flexible, speedy and efficient delivery of support to foster stability and to contribute to better migration management. More specifically, the Trust Fund will help address the root causes of destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration, by promoting economic and equal opportunities, strengthening resilience of vulnerable people, security and development. Moreover, the European Investment Bank, in cooperation with African partners, the Commission and other financial institutions, can provide financing to support the re- establishment of the conditions for self-sustaining economic growth and the development of human capital.