"Danish EU Presidency Pushes for Expanded \u2018Voluntary Return\u2019 Programmes in Africa"

" Danish EU Presidency Pushes for Expanded \u2018Voluntary Return\u2019 Programmes in Africa \r\n A Danish presidency paper , released today by the NGO Statewatch , described \u201cvoluntary return and reintegration programmes\u201d in Africa as a \u201ccritical part\u201d of Europe\u2019s future deportation strategy. \r\n The paper comes as deportations move to the forefront of the Brussels agenda, with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2025\/03\/eu-return-proposals-a-new-low-for-europes-treatment-of-migrants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2025\/03\/eu-return-proposals-a-new-low-for-europes-treatment-of-migrants\/&source=gmail&ust=1757507461426000&usg=AOvVaw1wYJpJDeqlbiMeDQvKUulj\">new Regulation under discussion and ongoing meetings among key Member States. Critics note that Europe\u2019s deportation system remains largely ineffective, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infomigrants.net\/en\/post\/63315\/new-eu-regulations-deportations-return-hubs-detention-bans-and-more\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.infomigrants.net\/en\/post\/63315\/new-eu-regulations-deportations-return-hubs-detention-bans-and-more&source=gmail&ust=1757507461426000&usg=AOvVaw2amgVNESWv4d3rAVwjQNaT\">fewer than 20% of people issued deportation orders ultimately deported. \r\n The Danish Presidency calls for \u201cstronger capacity\u201d for readmission and reintegration programmes in origin, transit and host countries - particularly in North Africa and the Sahel - but notes that a persistent \u201cresource gap\u201d in EU funding remains a \u201cmajor challenge\u201d. \r\n According to the paper, in 2024 Libya, Niger, Algeria and Tunisia were the top four countries of departure for \u201cIOM assisted returns\u201d. More than 40,000 people were \u201cvoluntarily returned\u201d from these countries last year, primarily to other African states. Tunisian human rights activist, Jihed Brirmi, said: \u201cIOM\u00b4s so-called \"voluntary return\" from Tunisia is not a real choice, it\u00b4s the last exit from a system that has already stripped people of dignity. Externalisation pushes Europe's borders onto Sfax olive fields, recycling colonial logics where the South polices mobility for the North. Calling this humanitarian is just another way to hide violence.\u201d \r\n An annex provides an overview of active programmes: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statewatch.org\/news\/2023\/march\/un-migration-data-kept-from-the-public-but-delivered-to-eu-border-externalisation-body\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.statewatch.org\/news\/2023\/march\/un-migration-data-kept-from-the-public-but-delivered-to-eu-border-externalisation-body\/&source=gmail&ust=1757507461426000&usg=AOvVaw0ueXIfkNtD1BXbtU7ZdykG\">IOM is implementing returns in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon, with the help of the German development agency GIZ in Cameroon, and the French development cooperation agency Expertise France and the Belgian agency Enabel in C\u00f4te D\u2019Ivoire. In Guinea, the programme is run by Enabel and Expertise France. \r\n Dr. Ngozi Louis Uzomah, researcher at the University of Nigeria, said: \u201c\u201cReturn migration is complex. Pushing for efficiency - large numbers of returns - without effectiveness - sustainable reintegration and respect for rights - risks failure. Policies must be shaped from the bottom up with returnees, local communities and traditional leaders, or people will be forced into remigration when their needs go unmet.\u201d \r\n A new initiative - \u201cManaging Migration Better in West Africa\u201d - is in development. It will target Chad, C\u00f4te D\u2019Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, with both \u201creintegration and counter-migration aims\u201d. \r\n The Danish presidency paper notes that, \u201cwhile increasing return rates is a key political concern, meaningful reintegration support could contribute to limiting the risk of irregular remigration\u201d. \r\n Chris Jones, Director of Statewatch, said, \u201cthe growing interest in \"reintegration\" programmes shows the extent of European governments' fixation with controlling human mobility. 'Get out, stay out and stay put' is the goal. In some ways the programmes look like the individualisation of development aid. Given that development programmes do not prevent people from migrating, should we expect \"reintegration\" projects to work any differently?\u201d "

"Danish EU Presidency Pushes for Expanded \u2018Voluntary Return\u2019 Programmes in Africa"

President Mahama Orders Termination of All SML Contracts Following OSP ProbeAMP

Gold an Ideal Hedge Against AI Bubble: BofAAMP

China to Eliminate Tariffs on All African GoodsAMP