"Through financial support and a strong partnership, the European Union has helped Niger reduce migration flows to Libya and the EU by more than 95%. In 2016, 330.000 people crossed Niger heading mainly to Europe via Libya. In 2017, that number dropped to less than 18.000, and in 2018 to around 10.000. We must continue to support Niger in this action by offering all possible assistance for the economic, business and technological development of the country ", said the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tagiani, in view of his mission in Niger on July 17 and 18.
"Niger is an example of the European Union's success, thanks to the optimal development of the Africa Trust Fund. Resources are being depleted and new appropriations are needed to help the country - one of the poorest in the world - protect its borders, manage its migration flows and ensure security. "My visit aims to strengthen the good partnership with Niger by offering specific opportunities for economic growth through the network of entrepreneurs, researchers and international organizations that will accompany me," Tagiani added.
At the request of Nigerian President Mahamadou Yousafoui, Tagiani will lead an economic diplomacy mission to Niamey with representatives from 30 European companies, research and innovation experts and international organizations, including the FAO. The mission will be based on four pillars: political cooperation, entrepreneurship promotion, research, innovation and technology transfer, and international cooperation.
Political cooperation
President Tagiani will be received by the President of Niger, Mahamadou Yousafoui, the President of the Nigerian National Assembly, Usini Tini, and the Prime Minister, Brizi Rafini, with whom he will discuss issues of security, border control and management of migration flows.
"Niger is doing an excellent job hosting tens of thousands of migrants evacuated from Libya by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Criminal Development (IOM). There is an urgent need for new financial assistance to continue these actions. The new 500 million tranche for the Africa Relief Fund must be largely devoted to supporting the country's efforts. Reform of the Dublin Regulation is also necessary to ensure that refugees located in transit countries are evenly distributed across EU countries. It is unacceptable that of the 1.700 vulnerable refugees evacuated to Niger from Libya, only a few dozen "They were accepted by some EU countries," Tagiani said.
President Tagiani will attend a meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the 5 Sahel countries (Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad). Strengthening co-operation between the Sahel countries is at the heart of this meeting, with the aim of reaching an agreement on enhancing regional stability, security, migration and development. Later, Tagiani will meet with Ibrahim Sani-Abani, Secretary General of Cen-sad, the 29-nation Sahel-Saharan community, to discuss the stabilization and democratization of Libya.