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Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
EU-Africa migration policy shift: Cooperation or coersion?
AI- Representative Image The European union (EU) commission has proposed conditioning development aid for African and other third countries on their cooperation with migration enforcement. Under the Global Europe instrument, aid allocation may now depend on how well a country cooperates with returns, readmissions, and border controls. Internal EU documents cited by the Financial Times and Reuters state that countries that do not comply with deportation agreements could see aid slashed. The move has led to criticism from humanitarian organizations, with Oxfam calling it a "distortion of the EU's development goals" and a "short-term political fix" to deeper structural issues. The policy shift comes amid mounting pressure within Europe to curb irregular migration across the Mediterranean and Sahara routes. The pressure is particularly intense in countries like Germany, Italy, and Greece, where national governments face increasing domestic opposition to asylum-seekers. A damaging message Policy experts and scholars across Africa are condemning the policy shift, calling it coercive and neo-colonial. The EU's approach, they argue, is likely to undermine both sovereignty and trust. "Stop your people from migrating or lose aid — sounds to me like a message of cohesion and not cooperation," Maria Ayuk, a postdoctoral researcher in peace and security at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg in Germany, told DW. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo "This reduces the African nations to border guards rather than equal partners in development. The EU is securitizing, and has over the years politicized, migration." She added that, "what the EU is doing is forcing Africans to keep people in Africa, because they are afraid of the 'Africanization' of Europe." Ignoring root causes of migration While European policymakers often emphasize "pull factors" such as jobs and security, African analysts say greater attention is needed on the conditions driving people to migrate in the first place. "People will definitely have the urge to move," said Fidel Amakye Owusu, a Ghana-based geopolitical and security advisor. Some of the main drivers are "socioeconomic problems, rural-urban development gaps, abject poverty, conflicts, and unemployment," he told DW. Paul Ejime, a media and global affairs analyst, agrees: "They are leaving because the environment […] is not conducive." Ejime also noted that "poverty, hardship, and instability" are pushing Africans to risk their lives in search of livelihoods. "Shutting the door or building walls is not the solution." According to Ayuk, governance failures are a part of the problem. "We have several autocratic leaders that want to stay in power forever. These are core issues we have to address," she told DW. Experts are of the consensus that Europe's trade practices and foreign interventions have directly contributed to instability and economic underdevelopment in Africa. These conditions, they argue, further drive migration. "Europe's extractive trade policies, arms exports, and selective interventions [...] have contributed to instability and insecurity, and of course underdevelopment, fuelling the very migration it seeks to prevent," Ayuk said. "Most of the health personnel in these countries are in Europe and America. The health sector is poorly funded, under-resourced, and the personnel they have are leaving the country," Ejime noted. The problem is exacerbated by what he says are Europe's double standards: "They can open their doors for people from Ukraine. But when it concerns Africans, they tighten the rules." Using aid as a political weapon The EU's tactic of conditioning development aid on cooperation with its migration objectives is also perceived as exploitative. "Yes, I think that the EU is tying aid to migration control," said Ayuk. "It weaponizes it and it shifts aid from solidarity to self-interest." She said that such an approach "undermines trust and mutual respect" between Europe and Africa. Ejime added that, "they have always done that." "At times, they come up with conditionalities when they want to give you any support," he told DW. African leadership under scrutiny While sharply critical of the EU policy shift, the three experts who spoke to DW agreed that African governments bear significant responsibility for the crisis and the tough immigration policies towards their citizens. "Africa is the problem, because it lacks the international agency," said Ayuk. "Those that are supposed to represent Africa do not represent the collective interest of Africa, but rather the individual interests of elites." Some experts are calling on African leaders to redefine the terms of negotiations with the EU. "Unfortunately, they are negotiating from a position of weakness. They are weak. The economies are weak. Politically, they are not even popular in their own countries and some of them are corrupt," Ejime said. "In the past, under slavery, Africans were forced to go abroad. Today, young people are the ones running away, because the environment is not conducive." Is there any leverage left for Africa? Despite their critiques, the experts believe Africa is not powerless. They maintain that the continent's strength can only come if it can mobilize political will. "Africa has the potential, and leverage exists," Ayuk said, pointing to the continent's resources and regional blocs. "But Africa requires unified leadership and a shift from dependence to a self-defined development." Owusu sees a need to harness technology and ensure effective management of national borders. "Many African countries lack the technology to patrol all their borders. It is very difficult to manage such borders and control the flow of people." However, he warned that the EU's approach could be counterproductive for countries making genuine efforts. As Europe grows more insular in its migration policies, some African countries may begin to pivot toward alternative global partnerships, for example with BRICS countries or other Global South initiatives, as Owusu pointed out. He suggested that, if Europe continues using development aid as leverage, Africa could deepen ties with emerging powers like China, India, Brazil, and Russia. "The more [the West] looks inwards for solutions, the more confrontational their policies become, and the more Africa moves towards the East," he said. But Ejime proposed a different approach: "Africa needs to be strategic, maximize its own interest, and negotiate from a position of strength." He added that, "if skilled workers go abroad, maybe there should be a kind of agreement or contract that sends money back to develop the health and education systems." Transactional aid risks long-term damage The experts agree that the current EU model that links aid to migration control, risks damaging long-term relations with Africa and fails to address root causes. "Migration should be managed, yes, but not securitized or politicized. We need reciprocal relations based on respect, equity, and justice," Ayuk said. Owusu also emphasized the need for mutual respect in achieving desired outcomes. "Europe must stop seeing Africa as the problem and start treating it as a partner," he told DW. Ejime turned the spotlight back on Africa and the need for effective leadership: "Africa is not zero-poor. It's poorly managed. And has been impoverished by bad leadership."
DW
21-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
EU-Africa migration policy shift: Cooperation or coersion? – DW – 07/21/2025
New hardline EU immigration policy could see development funding cut unless African nations prevent migrants from leaving. Some experts are warning its counterproductive, undermines sovereignty and fuels resentment. The European Union (EU) Commission has proposed conditioning development aid for African and other third countries on their cooperation with migration enforcement. Under its Global Europe instrument, aid allocations may now depend on how well a country cooperates with returns, readmissions, and border controls. Internal EU documents cited by the Financial Times and Reuters state that countries that do not comply with deportation agreements could see aid slashed. The move has led to criticism from humanitarian organizations, with Oxfam calling it a "distortion of the EU's development goals" and a "short-term political fix" to deeper structural issues. The policy shift comes amid mounting pressure within Europe to curb irregular migration across the Mediterranean and Sahara routes. The pressure is particularly intense in countries like Germany, Italy, and Greece, where national governments face increasing domestic opposition to asylum seekers. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Policy experts and scholars across Africa are condemning the policy shift, calling it coercive and neocolonial. The EU's approach, they argue, is likely to undermine both sovereignty and trust. "Stop your people from migrating or lose aid — sounds to me like a message of cohesion and not cooperation," Dr. Maria Ayuk, a postdoctoral researcher in peace and security at the Otto-von-Guericke University in Germany, told DW. "This reduces the African nations actually to border guards rather than equal partners in EU is securitizing and has over the years politicized migration." Ayuk added: "What the EU is doing is forcing Africans to keep people in Africa because they are afraid of the Africanization of Europe." While European policymakers often emphasize "pull factors" such as jobs and security, African analysts say greater attention is needed on the conditions driving people to migrate in the first place. "People will definitely have the urge to move," said Fidel Amakye Owusu, a Ghana-based geopolitical and security advisor. Some of the main drivers are "socioeconomic problems, rural-urban development gaps, abject poverty, conflicts, and unemployment," he told DW. Paul Ejime, a media and global affairs analyst, agrees: "They are leaving because the environment…is not conducive." Ejime also noted that "poverty, hardship, and instability" are pushing Africans to risk their lives in search of opportunity. "Shutting the door or building walls is not the solution." According to Ayuk, governance failures are a part of the problem. "We have several autocratic leaders that want to stay in power forever… These are the core issues we have to address," she told DW. Experts are of the consensus that Europe's trade practices and foreign interventions have directly contributed to instability and economic underdevelopment in Africa. These conditions, they argue, further drive migration. "Europe's extractive trade policies, arms exports, and selective interventions… have contributed to instability and insecurity, and of course underdevelopment, fueling the very migration it seeks to prevent," Ayuk said. "Most of the health personnel in these countries are in Europe and America. The health sector is poorly funded, under-resourced, and the personnel they have are leaving the country," Ejime noted. The problem is exacerbated by Europe's double standards: "They can open their doors for people from Ukraine…but when it concerns Africans, they tighten the rules." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The EU's tactic of conditioning development aid on cooperation with its migration objectives is also perceived as exploitative. "Yes, I think that the EU is tying aid to migration control," said Ayuk. "It weaponizes it and it shifts aid from solidarity to self-interest." She said that such an approach "undermines trust and mutual respect" between Europe and Africa. Ejime is also of the view that "Of course, they have always done that…At times they come up with conditionalities when they want to give you any support," he told DW. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video While sharply critical of the EU policy shift, the three experts who spoke to DW agreed that African governments bear significant responsibility for the crisis and the tough immigration policies towards their citizens. "Africa is the problem because it lacks the international agency," said Ayuk. "Those that are supposed to represent Africa do not represent the collective interest of Africa, but rather the individual interests of elites."Some experts are calling on African leaders to re-define the terms of negotiations with the EU. "Unfortunately, they are negotiating from a position of weakness. They are weak. The economies are weak. Politically, they are not even popular in their own countries and some of them are corrupt," Ejime said. "In the past, under slavery, Africans were forced to go abroad. Today, young people are the ones running the environment is not conducive." Despite their critiques, the experts believe Africa is not powerless — but maintain that, its strength can only come if it can mobilize political will. "Africa has the potential and leverage exists," Ayuk said, pointing to the continent's resources and regional blocs. "But Africa requires unified leadership and a shift from dependence to a self-defined development." Owusu sees a need to harness technology and ensure effective management of national borders. "Many African countries lack the technology to patrol all their borders… It is very difficult to manage such borders and control the flow of people." However, he warns that the EU's approach could be counter-productive for countries making genuine efforts. As Europe grows more insular in its migration policies, some African countries may begin to pivot toward alternative global partnerships. "With the rise of the BRICS countries and other Global South initiatives," said Owusu. "The more [the West] looks inwards for solutions, the more confrontational their policies become, and the more Africa moves towards the East." Owusu suggests that if Europe continues using development aid as leverage, Africa could deepen ties with emerging powers like China, India, Brazil, and Russia But Ejime proposed a different approach: "Africa needs to be strategic, maximize its own interest, and negotiate from a position of strength." He added, "If skilled workers go abroad, maybe there should be a kind of agreement or contract that sends money back to develop the health and education systems." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The experts agree that the current EU model that links aid to migration control, risks damaging long-term relations with Africa and fails to address root causes. "Migration should be managed, yes, but not securitized or politicized. We need reciprocal relations based on respect, equity, and justice," Ayuk said. Owusu also emphasised the need for mutual respect in achieving desired outcomes. "Europe must stop seeing Africa as the problem and start treating it as a partner," he told DW. Ejime turns the spotlight back on Africa and the need for effective leadership: "Africa is not zero-poor. It's poorly managed. And has been impoverished by bad leadership." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Fibre2Fashion
18-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
$2.32-trn EU budget 2028-2034 presented for stronger Europe
The European Commission yesterday presented its proposal for an ambitious and dynamic Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), amounting to almost €2 trillion (~$2.32 trillion), or 1.26 per cent of the European Union's (EU) gross national income on average between 2028 and 2034. This framework will run for seven years, starting in 2028, and equip Europe with a long-term investment budget matching its ambitions to be an independent, prosperous, secure and thriving society and economy over the coming decade. The European Commission has presented its proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework, amounting to almost $2.32 trillion, or 1.26 per cent of the EU's gross national income on average between 2028 and 2034. This framework will run for seven years, starting in 2028. The Commission proposed a fundamental redesign of the budget, which will be more streamlined, flexible and impactful. The Commission proposed a fundamental redesign of the EU budget, which will be more streamlined, flexible and impactful. It will significantly enhance the EU's capacity to deliver on core policies while addressing new and emerging priorities, an official release said. The budget will continue to support people, business, member states, regions, partners and the EU's collective future, it noted. The Commission has also proposed new own resources and adjustments to existing ones, which will ease pressure on national budgets, generating €58.5 billion per year. Key features of the new MFF include simpler, more streamlined and harmonised EU financial programmes, so that citizens and companies can easily find and access funding opportunities. The MFF will offer a powerful competitiveness boost for Europe to secure supply chains, scale-up innovation and lead the global race for clean and smart technology. Transparency on and screening of the beneficiaries of the EU budget will be reinforced. Information on the recipients of EU funds will be published in a centralised database. Stepping up investment in skills is fundamental to help EU students and workers embrace opportunities. A reinforced Erasmus+ programme will be the backbone of the Union of Skills, which aims at building skills for quality jobs, upskilling and reskilling. Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport. A new European Competitiveness Fund, worth €409 billion, will invest in strategic technologies to benefit the entire single market. It will focus its support on four areas: clean transition and decarbonisation; digital transition; health, biotech, agriculture and bioeconomy; defence and space. To simplify external action financing, a Global Europe, worth €200 billion for 2028-2034 will maximise impact on the ground and improve visibility of EU external action in partner countries. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Morocco World
17-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
EU, Morocco Bolster Migration and Border Cooperation
Rabat — The European Commission and Morocco are in discussions to formalize a new partnership aimed at strengthening cooperation on migration management and border control, European officials confirmed this week. The European Commission said it is working with Rabat to 'deepen' their bilateral relationship through an agreement modeled on existing deals with Tunisia, Egypt, and Jordan. These agreements set out commitments on both sides, providing financial and technical support in exchange for stronger border management and cooperation on curbing irregular migration. At a press conference unveiling the EU 's Global Europe instrument, which seeks to double aid to North African countries in the next budget, Dubravka Suica, the EU Commissioner for Democracy and Demography, highlighted Morocco as a priority partner. 'We already have partnerships with many of them and are trying to strengthen them all. Currently, we are collaborating with Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan. We are working on deepening our partnership with Morocco and will also begin working with Lebanon,' Suica said. In recent years, the EU signed memoranda of understanding with Tunisia and Egypt during a surge of migrant arrivals in the Central Mediterranean. These agreements form part of the EU's broader strategy to enhance regional stability while managing migration more effectively. According to EU sources cited by Europa Press, Brussels aims to reach a similar agreement with Morocco. However, they noted that talks are still at an early stage, and no specific timeline has been set for finalizing the deal. Against this backdrop, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita met in Brussels on Wednesday with Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission. During their high-level meeting, both sides reaffirmed the depth of the Morocco–EU strategic partnership, describing it as grounded in a shared vision of stability, prosperity, and co-development. They recalled progress in various areas of cooperation, including security, trade, energy transition, and addressing shared challenges such as terrorism, irregular migration, and climate change. Bourita and Kallas exchanged views on regional and international issues, particularly the situations in the Sahel, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. They also shared their views on the importance of close coordination to confront current geopolitical challenges in a spirit of shared responsibility and open dialogue. Tags: BouritaBrusselsEuropean Union and MoroccoMorocco EU cooperation
Euractiv
17-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Commission's EU budget plan delivers major blow to fisheries
The European Commission has slashed fisheries funding by two-thirds in its proposal for the next long-term EU budget, triggering sharp criticism from lawmakers and the industry. In its proposal for a long-term EU budget for the 2028-2034 period, the EU executive merged the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) into a single mega-fund that also covers cohesion and rural development funds, and which is to be managed by national governments. Beyond the structural overhaul, the fisheries budget has shrunk from around €6 billion to €2 billion. 'The budget cut is as unjustified as it is alarming,' said Spanish MEP Carmen Crespo Díaz of the centre-right European Peoples' Party (EPP) and chair of the Parliament's Fisheries (PECH) committee. This comes 'after years of quota reductions, increasing limitations on fishing days, and a lack of real support for fishing effort,' she added. Crespo also criticised the loss of EMFAF's standalone status. 'Without a specific fund, there is no specific policy,' she warned. Industry representatives echoed the concern. 'We are witnessing a weakening of support for a sector already under severe strain and in steady decline,' said Europêche, the EU's main fishing lobby. EU fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis, however, dismissed the criticism. 'Fisheries and ocean related policies are very well reflected in all three major building blocks of the new EU budget,' he said on social media. Kadis added that member states can choose to allocate more funds to fisheries through their National and Regional Plans (NRPs), and that the €2 billion is a minimum ringfenced amount within the larger fund. He also pointed to additional funding options, including the European Competitiveness Fund, which supports investments in 'sustainable blue economy', and the Global Europe tool, aimed at 'ocean diplomacy' and combatting illegal fishing. (adm, de)
