'The stick' or the 'carrot' for the migration crisis?

(Baonghean.vn) - The European Commission (EC) is making efforts to stop the flow of migrants from Africa. Much pressure and incentive is being exerted to 'entice' African countries to close their borders and prevent migrants from leaving.

EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Frederica Mogherini argued before the European Parliament: “We have to start somewhere. We won’t be turning things upside down with proposals, but there is no way to change African societies other than to work with them.”

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini wants to cooperate with African societies to address the issue of migration.

Migration control

Behind the calls for new forms of cooperation among European, Middle Eastern, and African countries on migration policy remains the pressing political need, as a recent EU document states: "Currently, tens of thousands of people arriving in Libya are seeking to reach Europe." Brussels knows that EU members are still at odds, and virtually no one wants to accept more migrants.

Meanwhile, the number of arrivals in Europe has continued to rise in recent days. Currently, many African migrants are embarking on deadly journeys along the Western Mediterranean to Italy. This is why the EU wants to sign cooperation agreements with Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia, and Libya – agreements similar to the one reached between the EU and Türkiye.

Countries willing to close their borders, detain illegal migrants, and eventually establish migrant reception centers will be 'rewarded': Europe wants to offer the promise of more development aid and improved trade relations.

To that end, funds currently allocated for development and migration policy in Africa will be combined, and payments will be made depending on the circumstances, for example, North African countries retaining their citizens if those individuals are not eligible for EU residency.

The entire area is included in an investment plan aimed at boosting economic development in the affected countries. The EC hopes that up to $68 million can be raised if private businesses participate and if the European Investment Bank (EIB) guarantees the investment.

EU Deputy Commissioner Frans Timmermans recently negotiated a new agreement with Türkiye on migration.

Praise from the conservative side

Member states took the first step in this direction last fall, at the EU-Africa summit in Malta. However, no action has been taken following those firm promises.

The problem lies in finances: “The EU committed $2 billion to the African Trust Fund, but member states have only contributed $91 million so far,” complained Manfred Weber, leader of the conservative African People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament.

Furthermore, he asserted that he had no problem with strengthening development cooperation to effectively implement migration policies. He argued that countries willing to accept back their citizens should be praised, while those that do not should be punished.

Criticism from the left and liberals.

"Copying our agreement with Türkiye and pushing the problems onto others is not the way to progress," is the opposing view from the liberal leader in the European Parliament. "Okay, we pay, now you keep the migrants here"—this kind of thinking won't work in the long run.

Guy Verhofstadt proposed a more comprehensive EU-Africa cooperation agreement: economic development within and in transitional countries needs to be strengthened to provide future prospects for people, in addition to promoting democratic development.

The majority of the European Parliament seems to favor a combination of 'stick' and 'carrot' approach for African countries. EU Deputy Commissioner Frans Timmermans said: “We must send migrants back and help them live in their own countries.”

This is the man who negotiated that agreement with Türkiye. And perhaps much more difficult negotiations await him with a long list of African countries.

Thao Linh

(According to DW)