Belgium,
Brussels – Oct 28 – Bilateral meeting Between the EESC President
Georges Dassis and the AU ECOSOCC President Joseph Chilengi at the
occasion of the Second meeting of the EU-Africa Socio-Economic Actors
Network.
-2nd meeting of the EU-Africa Socio-Economic Actors Network adopts joint resolution
An
approach based on full cooperation with African countries and respect
for human rights in tackling the refugee flows into the EU has the full
support of civil society from both continents. However, it is necessary
to act now: “An action plan is not enough, it is important to equip it with the necessary funding and improve coordination and cooperation“. These were the main messages of the 2nd
meeting of the EU-Africa Socio-Economic Actors Network in Brussels,
organised by the European Economic and Social Committee on 27-28
October.
The EESC
welcomed Civil Society representatives from African States, members of
European economic and social councils and partner organisations as well
as representatives from the European institutions and international
organisations to discuss the main challenges and find common solutions
to the refugee crisis. The 2nd meeting of the EU-Africa Socio-Economic Actors Network ended with a joint resolution outlining proposals which mainly focused on three issues:
First, the fight against migrant smuggling and the strengthening of police and judicial cooperation as
outlined in the EU’s action plan. Participants stressed the importance
of adequate funding, the need for closer cooperation between the two
continents and the urge to punish traffickers, not the migrants
themselves. The setting up of safe humanitarian corridors and support
to civil society organisations providing assistance to migrants on the
ground were also highlighted.
Second, addressing the root causes for migration: The economic and social stakeholders in the EU-Africa network endorse the proposal of setting up an Emergency Trust Fund for Africa but
insist on a real partnership between the countries for the
implementation of this Fund. The goals defined by the Sustainable
Development Objectives will need to frame the actions to be taken in
this area.
Third, facilitating legal migration and mobility:
Participants identified human rights, solidarity and real cooperation
as the principles that should underlie legal migration policies and
actions. Also, the ILO directives on labour migration have to be upheld,
and social partners included in the implementation of agreements.
The adopted
declaration will be forwarded to the EU and African Heads of State and
Government that will meet at the Valletta Summit on 11-12 November in
order to make them aware of the willingness of economic and social
actors to cooperate in the resolution of the refugee crisis and in the
shared management of migratory flows. As the crisis is already
showing today, without the involvement of citizens and organised civil
society, no sustainable solutions will be possible.
Hakuna maoni:
Chapisha Maoni