EU announces new decisions to better manage migration and to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement

The European Commission has today announced a total of 16 actions worth almost €300 million to address the root causes of irregular migration and displacement, and to increase the positive impact of migration on the economic and social development in countries of origin, transit and destination of migratory flows. This includes a package of 10 actions for an amount of €253 million in the Horn of Africa, decided today by the first Operational Committee meeting of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, set-up at record speed to respond to the challenges of instability, irregular migration and forced displacement. Further Operational Committee meetings will be held as of the beginning of 2016 to decide on new actions. EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: “The adoption of the five-pillar action plan at the Valletta Summit on migration was a major first step towards a renewed partnership with African countries to address migration, mobility and forced displacement through concrete action. Today we are taking the second step, showing the real work has started. The fast-tracked approval of today’s new projects proves that this is not business as usual“. A press release and two factsheets are available.