Mali and European Union reach deal on repatriation of denied asylum applicants

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The EU and Mali have reached a deal seeking to stop migrants from attempting life-threatening sea crossings to reach Europe. The EU will also invest money to help Mali and its neighbors improve border security.

The European Union has reached an agreement with the Malian government to facilitate the return of migrants who have reached Europe but subsequently had their asylum requests rejected by the EU.

"It is the first time the EU establishes such a precise mechanism with an African country with regards to returning failed asylum seekers," said a statement from the Dutch foreign ministry, which signed the agreement on the EU's behalf.

The deal, which will be presented in Brussels on Monday, is "necessary," according to Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, whose country will hold the EU's rotating presidency starting January 1.

The accord aims to fight "the root causes of illegal migration" and to "enable the return from Europe of Malian migrants," the statement said.
In November 2015 EU leaders met with their African counterparts at a summit in the Maltese capital, Valletta, where European leaders agreed to establish a 1.8-billion-euro ($1.9 billion) fund to address the root causes of migration.

In exchange, African leaders agreed to increase border controls and accept the repatriation of those who make it to Europe, but are deemed ineligible for asylum.
The EU-Mali agreement lays the ground work for schemes to help younger people find work, while also seeking to strengthen the country's security forces.