It is also to become easier to return asylum-seekers whose requests are rejected, reported Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller to the Cabinet.

The German government sees migration partnerships as a key factor in efforts to achieve peace, stability and economic development in Africa. The partnerships aim to join forces to prevent illegal migration, facilitate the return of unsuccessful asylum-seekers and address the causes of displacement and illegal migration in the countries of origin and transit states.

German focus on Mali and Niger

Currently, migration partnerships are planned with five African countries of origin of migrants and transit states. Some are already being implemented. The countries involved are Niger, Mali, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Senegal.

Within the framework of support measures agreed with these countries, a whole series of instruments, including trade and development policy will come into play. They are to provide incentives for concrete cooperation on migration policy.

The German government is intensively involved in shaping the EU’s migration partnerships. It has declared itself ready to support Niger and Mali in particular, in cooperation with France and Italy. In these countries, the German government is already engaged in the fields of development policy, foreign policy and security policy, helping to achieve stability, peace and development.

Priority issue at the European Council meeting

The European Council meeting on 15 and 16 December will take stock of progress achieved on EU migration partnerships. This will also involve a review of the option of extending partnerships already launched to embrace more countries.

On 28 June 2016 the European Council adopted guidelines for EU migration partnerships or compacts, initially with five African states that are countries of origin of migrants or transit states used by migrants. In September, in its Bratislava Roadmap, the EU reaffirmed its intention of reducing irregular migration and increasing the rates of return of unsuccessful asylum-seekers through migration compacts.