German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants the European Union to establish agreements for the readmission of migrants similar to the controversial pact reached with Turkey, she explained Tuesday in the regional press. “We must reach similar agreements with other countries, in general of North Africa, to have more control over the migration routes in the centre of the Mediterranean,” declared the German leader to Passauer Neue Presse and Ruhr Nachrichten. “Such agreements would also benefit people fleeing their countries,” argues Mrs. Merkel, without specifying countries, while Libya, suffering from instability since 2011, has become a choice country for smugglers of migrants whose targets are the coasts of Europe.
The agreement with Turkey establishes that it readmits migrants who reach Greece illegally. In return, the EU must disburse three billion euro to help Ankara in receiving refugees, with the possibility of subsequent aid for the same amount. The EU has also committed that for every Syrian refugee sent back, another one from Turkey will be “re-established”.
(Source: Belga)
