The EU is also tired of Sánchez’s lack of illegal migration control: it demands to reinforce the return of immigrants

2023-06-13 07:09:46

The EU wants scenes like those of the port of Arguineguín or the massive stops at the fence to completely go down in history. Brussels has presented its new document on “Migration Routes”, which includes a new Action Plan for the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic routes. The goal: prevent illegal entries.

The Commission has just presented its EU Action Plan on the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic Migration Routes. President von der Leyen herself, in her letter to the European Council of March 20, 2023, pointed out the importance of this work and underlined her concern over the migration issue. The new Action Plan now incorporates a direct follow-up to the Extraordinary Council for Justice and Home Affairs in November 2022. And everything is directed at the strengthening of alliances “with the main countries of origin and transit along the route, in full coordination with its Member States as Team Europe.

Actions taken by the EU, Member States and international partners have contributed to the significant decrease in irregular arrivals. However, the number of irregular arrivals remains sustained. And continuous vigilance and concrete operational responses are required, anchored in current effective cooperation”, as highlighted in the Brussels communication.

The new Action Plan presents “18 specific operational measures structured along two pillars. The aim is to help Member States strengthen migration management along this route, preventing irregular departures and saving lives, while working closely with key partner countries.”

The first pillar gives an idea of ​​what happens between Spain and Morocco: “Strengthened cooperation with partner countries is key to address migration challenges and the fight against smuggling. […] The focus is on preventing irregular migration by fighting against the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings, strengthening border management.” Translated: help Morocco to stop the illegal arrival of immigrants.

“To this end, the EU will intensify work on:

1) Identify short-term operational priorities and coordination measures between the EU and Member States to address migration with a whole-path approach, in a multi-stakeholder approach. Team Europe“.

2), “to prevent irregular migration by combating the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings. Through the implementation of the Operational Partnership against Smuggling with Moroccothe launch in this context of a regional program funded by NDICI-Global Europe and, in general, the consolidation of anti-smuggling activities with partner countries in Africa along the entire route, while maintaining efforts to combat human trafficking.

The third goes through “border management through the strengthening the capacities of Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia to develop specific actions that prevent irregular departures and encourage greater bilateral cooperation between Frontex and Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal”.

The fourth, among others, is based on “return, readmission and reintegration by supporting protection and voluntary return operations in North Africa and the Sahel countries, and enhancing the ongoing commitment to improve practical cooperation on of readmission and a sustainable reintegration of returnees in their countries of origin”.

Despite this, the plan does call for greater “protection and legal pathways promoting the effective application of protection mechanisms in partner countries”, but, yes, “while promoting and supporting legal pathways towards protection in the EU through resettlement, humanitarian admission and complementary pathways”. And it also demands “strengthening operational search and rescue measures, return procedures, as well as more fluid and rapid voluntary solidarity.”