The Commission presents today an EU action plan on migration routes her Western Mediterranean and Atlantic.

The president, Mr. von der Leyen in her letter to the European Council of 20 March 2023, she recalled the ongoing cooperation between the Commission and the Member States most concerned with regard to the action plans for the Western Mediterranean and the Atlantic. This action plan is also a direct follow-up to the extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council of November 2022, where ministers committed to implement the EU action plan for the Central Mediterranean, which will follow the EU action plan for the Western Balkans, and they approved the development of similar action plans for the main migration routes.

The EU is strengthening its partnership with key countries of origin and transit along the route, in full coordination with its Member States as ‘Team Europe’. Measures taken by the EU, Member States and international partners have contributed to a significant reduction in irregular arrivals. However, migration flows remain intense. This is why constant vigilance and specific operational responses, based on current effective cooperation, are required.

This action plan presents 18 targeted operational measures structured in two pillars. The aim is to support Member States to strengthen migration management along this route, preventing irregular departures and saving lives, in close cooperation with key partner countries.

First pillar: Strengthening cooperation with partner countries

Enhanced cooperation with partner countries is key to addressing migration challenges and combating illegal trafficking. Through a holistic approach, emphasis is placed on preventing irregular migration by combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking, as well as strengthening border management. To this end, the EU will step up its work on:

The identification of short-term operational priorities and coordination measures between the EU and the Member States to tackle migration with an approach that takes into account the whole route, within the framework of “Team Europe”.
Preventing irregular migration by combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking: by implementing the anti-trafficking operational partnership with Morocco, the launch of a regional program funded by the “MGADS — Europe in the world” and the overall consolidating anti-trafficking activities with partner countries in Africa along the route, while maintaining anti-trafficking efforts.

Border management by strengthening the capacities of Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia to develop targeted actions to prevent irregular departures and promote increased bilateral cooperation between Frontex and Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal .

Return, readmission and reintegration by supporting protection and voluntary return operations in North Africa and the Sahel countries, and strengthening the ongoing commitment to improve practical cooperation on the readmission and sustainable reintegration of returnees in their countries of origin.

Protection and legal pathways by ensuring the effective implementation of protection mechanisms in partner countries, while promoting and supporting legal pathways to protection in the EU through resettlement, humanitarian admission and complementary pathways.

Labor migration and talent attraction partnerships. Operationalizing the talent attraction partnership with Morocco is a priority. The Commission is also currently assessing the feasibility of launching legal migration and mobility programs with Nigeria and Senegal.

Second pillar: Strengthening operational measures for search and rescue, return procedures, as well as smoother and faster voluntary solidarity

Strengthening effective border management and returns from the EU to partner countries is essential for a functioning migration management system. The EU will accelerate its work to:

-The targeted assessment of the situation in the Western Mediterranean and the Atlantic by Frontex, in close cooperation with the Member States.
-Strengthening cooperation on returns to partner countries between EU Member States (advice on return, assistance in issuing identification documents and travel documents, coordination of return flights, etc.), as well as sustainable reintegration of returnees, supported by the EU Return Coordinator and the High Level Network on Returns.
-Linking the reintegration of voluntary returnees with investments by Member States and European companies in countries of origin and transit, especially in terms of promoting job creation and skills development.
-More effective and faster responses under the voluntary solidarity mechanism, with the support of the Commission and the EU Asylum Agency. As the mechanism continues to apply, pledging states are also encouraged to show flexibility, alleviating pressure on the reception systems of first-entry Member States.

While we continue to make steady progress in reforming the EU’s legal framework on migration and asylum, we need to take firm and continued action to manage migration directly. The package of operational measures that we are proposing today to address migration along the Western Mediterranean route is part of this project for vigilance in addressing the challenges that our Member States are facing today” said Mr. Margaritis Schinas , vice president for Promoting our European Way of Life

“This action plan on the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic migration routes is the latest part of our commitment to address the challenges of irregular migration in an operational way. The plan presents proposals for anti-trafficking measures, better border management, return procedures and legal pathways. It is part of our ‘Team Europe’ strategy, where we work with partners along all routes to prevent irregular departures and save lives,” said Mrs Ylva Jansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Next steps

The Commission presents this action plan ahead of the upcoming Justice and Home Affairs Council on 8-9 June and the European Council on 29-30 June.

The EU and Member States should work together to achieve the objectives set out in this Action Plan and ensure its effective implementation. Reporting and monitoring through existing Commission and Council mechanisms is essential. This action plan complements ongoing work on other key migration routes to Europe and can act as a model for developing similar plans for other migration routes.

Athena Papakosta