Countries
agree migration plans （７/１２）
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5169736.stm
European and African countries have
agreed a plan to tackle illegal immigration, at a specially-convened meeting in
the Moroccan capital, Rabat.
The
proposals include joint monitoring of sea and border routes, and tackling
poverty through aid.
But human rights
groups say they fear the focus will be on cracking down on illegal immigration
rather than alleviating poverty.
Some
10,000 migrants have arrived in Spain's Canary Islands this year alone.
Click to see map of main
routes into Europe
Officials
from 57 countries attended the conference, which was triggered by the growing
number of African migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Co-ordinated
approach
"We
have agreed to create and develop a close partnership between our respective
countries to work together... with respect for the fundamental rights and
dignity of migrants and refugees," the delegates said in a final
declaration.
Other
plans include
- a
migration observatory to track people's movements
- measures
to increase awareness of the dangers of illegal migration
- financial,
aid and employment incentives
Countries will also attempt to
jointly target human trafficking networks through co-ordinated police and
judicial efforts.
The conference said the
repatriation of illegal migrants would also be made easier, with clearer rules
on how they should be treated to preserve their dignity.
'Hundreds' killed
The number of illegal migrants
reaching Spain's Canary Islands this year is already double the total for 2005.
Hundreds have also landed on
Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Most of the migrants are from
West and Central Africa - Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast and DR Congo.
While thousands manage to reach
European territory, many are killed after trying to make the journey in
overcrowded and unsafe boats.
The BBC's Alix Kroeger in Rabat
says it is impossible to know how many have died in the attempt, but they are
likely to number in the hundreds.
