Migration and development: the EU needs a holistic policy approach
Coherent approach combining development cooperation and migration management essential
Should focus on preventing the instrumentalisation of migration
Cooperation key to ending smuggling and human trafficking
On Tuesday, MEPs adopted a report on reinforcing development cooperation to address irregular population movements and their root causes in EU partner countries.
The report, adopted in plenary on Tuesday with 344 votes in favour, 237 against and 66 abstentions, argues that a holistic approach combining development cooperation and migration management is essential to deliver security and solidarity both within the EU and in countries of origin and transit.
Coherent EU policy
MEPs restate the connections between migration and development cooperation, calling on the Commission and EU member states to extend their commitment to policy coherence for development to migration policies, in full respect of human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They argue EU development policy should continue to prioritise poverty eradication, inequality reduction and sustainable development, in line with the SDGs, while also focusing on long-term investments based on the needs of partner countries – including when addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement.
The EU’s approach must, MEPs say, be prepared and implemented in a fully coherent manner, with a pragmatic and mutually beneficial, results-oriented approach aimed at bringing stability and economic opportunities to partner countries, including migration flow countries of origin and transit.
Root causes
MEPs pinpoint issues where the EU can provide tailored support for partner countries, such as on fragile geopolitical contexts, the impact of climate change, the role of agriculture, empowering young people, promoting and supporting sustainable economic development, and capacity-building to support education, healthcare, and democratic consolidation.
Cooperation
MEPs say the EU should promote cooperation with partner countries on migration, based on solidarity, shared responsibility, and respect for human rights. Cooperation is also essential in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling, and it should also focus on preventing the instrumentalisation of migration.
They argue that strict border controls without alternative legal pathways for migration shift the routes, introducing different steps in the journey and new transit countries, thus increasing the precariousness of the journey and the exposure of migrants to smuggling networks, extortion and violence.
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Speaking after the vote, rapporteur Lukas Mandl (EPP, AT), said: ‘Europe is the world’s largest investor in development cooperation, surpassing any other global actor. Europe’s soft power must not be underestimated in promoting universal values such as human dignity and individual freedom. Development cooperation also plays an important role in addressing Europe’s own challenges. The European Parliament has now clearly stated that the EU’s international partnerships should contribute to tackling irregular migration and help address the demographic crisis through labour migration.’