THE European Union (EU) denied yesterday its new approach to immigration would target people trying to leave Africa and insisted that African nations were considered partners in the policy.
“It’s not a pact against Africa, it’s a pact with Africa,” said French Immigration minister Brice Hortefeux, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency.
“It is a pact that is balanced and coherent which promotes immigration that is selected and done in consultation, which means in partnership, with countries where immigrants are coming from,” he said.
The 27 EU nations agreed unanimously on July 7 on sweeping new guidelines for controlling immigration, and want the details ironed out by October, but they have been criticised by African rights groups and Senegal.
The “European Pact on Immigration and Asylum” sets out principles for the EU to manage migration, fight illegal immigration and help development in poor countries that people are leaving or travelling through to get to Europe.
African rights watchdog Raddho has slammed “the EU policies of criminalisation and locking up of migrants and asylum seekers” and spoke of its “intense worry” about the new guidelines.
It called on the African Union to protect its citizens and engage with the EU on immigration