Brussels: Mauritania-EU High-Level Meeting on Irregular Migration, Refugees
Brussels, the Belgian capital, hosted, on 14 December, a high-level meeting bringing together the European Union, Spain, France, and Germany, to examine the phenomenon of irregular migration and the growing flow of refugees toward Mauritania, in addition to the risks and damage that this could cause.
On the Mauritanian side, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior and Decentralization, the Director General of National Security, the Secretaries General of several ministries, the General Delegate for Civil Security and Crisis Management, the Commander of the Coast Guard, the Director General of the Regional Administration, the Commander of the Western Region of the National Gendarmerie, the Director of the Air and Border Police, and the first counselor of our country’s embassy to the European Union took part in the meeting.
On the European side, twenty-three senior officials were present representing the General Directorate of Migration and Home Affairs, and the General Directorate of International Partnerships, among other structures.
During the meeting, our delegation made a detailed presentation of the challenges and problems that Mauritania faces due to the increase in the number of refugees and irregular migrants, although it is neither a country of origin nor a destination country for migrants, which is evident in the pressure placed on public services, employment opportunities, and natural resources.
The delegation also addressed the priorities linked to cooperation with Europe in this regard, in the short, medium, and long terms, within the framework of a strategic partnership that takes into account the common interests of both parties through the development of an appropriate framework agreement between Mauritania and the European Union, in addition to the review and updating of bilateral agreements, in particular those which link our country and the Kingdom of Spain.
The European side showed great appreciation for Mauritania and its position as a credible strategic partner and noted the level of partnership with our country, giving a detailed presentation of the cooperation it has with our country in various areas. The Europeans showed a strong response to the proposals and aspirations of the Mauritanian side during the meeting.
Regarding legal migration, our delegation called for increasing the quota of visas granted to Mauritania, while facilitating procedures, in particular for patients, researchers, experts, students, young applicants for employment, businessmen, the press, leaders of local groups, civil society organizations, and tourists, and removing visa requirements from diplomatic and work passports to European Union member countries.
In addition, the meeting decided to establish a mechanism allowing the continuation of consultations between the two parties within the framework of the High Joint Commission (in its composition meeting in Brussels), with the appointment of an officer of liaison for each party, the training of specialized technical teams, and the scheduling of regular meetings.
It also committed to preparing a draft framework document on cooperation in the field of migration from next January, which will be discussed and signed by the Mauritanian government and the President of the EU Commission.