The European Union and African Heads of States and Foreign Ministers are preparing to meet at Valletta, Malta to work out measures to address migration problems in Europe.
The two-day summit starts from November 11-12, 2015 and is expected to build on existing cooperation processes between Europe and Africa, particularly the Rabat and Khartoum processes on migration, and the EU-Africa Dialogue on Migration and Mobility.
A senior EU Official in a video conferencing with journalists from 13 African Countries including Ghana, said migrants and refugees are moving for different reasons such as fleeing from conflict, political and economic instability, human rights violations and poverty.
He said the EU, together with the member states, has taken a range of measures to address the challenges created by migration; as the problem is not an issue for Europe alone, but also the countries of origin of the migrants.
The countries of origin of migrants include Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Sudan, Somali, Morocco, Guinea, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt.
He stressed the need to strengthen the structures and systems of host countries as well as countries of origin of the migrants to combat illegal migration.
Over the last few months, the European Union has been confronted with unprecedented number of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe, hence the need for both countries of origin or transit to collaborate to combat illegal migration.
In April 2015, the European Council called for an international summit to discuss migration issues with Africa and other key countries concerned.
To address migration issues in Ghana, the EU is supporting Ghana with a three million Euro project entirely funded under the 10th European Development Fund, channeled through the International Organization for Migration.
The Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach (GIMMA) project strengthens the dialogue between Ghana, the EU and Specialized International Agencies in the area of migration and mobility, in line with the EU and Africa Union Global Approach in that area.
EU member states, members of the Rabat and Khartoum processes, observers to the Rabat process, representatives of the African Union Commission and the ECOWAS Commission, the United Nations and the International Office on Migration have been invited to attend the summit.
Source: GNA
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