Building talent partnerships with countries of origin and transit is a key policy in addressing migration. Europe must shift the focus of migration policy's external dimension and make it part of a broader geopolitical and geo-economic agenda that will be given its rightful place among other policies.

"Today we are talking about how geopolitics touches upon migration. A big wave of migrants to Europe will be coming from Africa", underlined the president of the REX section Dimitris Dimitriadis at the meeting held in July 2021.

As of January 2020, an estimated 23 million out of the 447 million people living in the EU are third-country nationals, representing 5% of the European population.

While the new pact on migration and asylum is still advocating talent partnerships with the countries of origin, transit and destination, it seems that there are blockages preventing its effective implementation.

Jean-Louis De Brower from the European Affairs programme at the Egmont Institute commented that there is probably a lack of trust in and solidarity towards the new pact.

Estrella Gallan, representing the Spanish Commission for Refugees, also pointed out that the issues of migration and asylum fall on the shoulders of the entry countries and should be dealt with in a more proportionate manner, based on shared responsibility and solidarity.

Development policy in Africa can put a stop to illegal migration

A positive contribution to development in Africa, which is vulnerable to climate change, could bring social, political and economic stability.

In the words of MEP Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, 1st vice-chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Development, "Development policies are inextricably linked to migration".

Adding to that, Dr Chiyoge B. Sifa, from the International Co-operative Alliance Africa, underscored the importance of the ICA-EU partnership, which plays a significant role in discouraging young people from taking the Mediterranean routes. (at)