European
and African ministers have agreed to adopt a coordinated approach to deal with
the issue of migration. They are in Rome to discuss the humanitarian crisis
caused by a surge in the number of migrants.
Deutsche Welle, 28 Nov 2014
Interior
ministers of 58 European and African countries convened on Friday for a summit
on migration in the Italian capital of Rome.
In a joint
commentary published in the German daily Frankfurter Rundschau on Friday,
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Italian counterpart
Paolo Gentiloni said that by strengthening the educational and health systems
in African countries, Europe can tackle the refugee problem.
The two
ministers emphasized the importance of comprehensive strategies and a
collaborative approach - that goes beyond the policing of borders - to deal
with the issue.
Senegal's
interior minister, Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo, said Thursday the migration issue
was creating problems for both the European countries and their Mediterranean
neighbors. However, Diallo said the fourth round of the so-called Rabat process
in Rome had resulted in a "significant forward step" in terms of its
objectives.
"For
Africa, it is not desirable to see some of its best people leaving while
European countries find themselves with newcomers they feel they cannot deal
with," Diallo said.
Italy, the
host of the summit, has been particularly affected by a rise in the number of North African migrants seeking to enter Europe by sea. At least 165,000
migrants - an increase of about 100,000 people compared to last year - have
entered Europe via the Mediterranean this year, according to some estimates.
The meeting
of the EU and African ministers comes as a ship carrying more than 700 men,women and children broke down in international waters about 30 nautical miles
(56 kilometers) from the Mediterranean on Thursday. The ship was later towed to
the Greek island of Crete. It is one of the largest refugee boats to make the
crossing in recent months.
shs/kms (AFP, dpa)
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