EU funds Mauritania to tackle immigration

To support the Mauritanian Government combat immigration issues in European countries, the European Union has allocated a financial aid of 3.2 billion Ouguiya (MRO) to Mauritania. Maurtiania is a main transitory terminal for African illegal immigrants heading to Europe, especially the Spanish Canary Islands which lies at the opposite side of the Mauritanian shores. The immigrants leave on boats departing from the economic capital Nouadhibou which lies on the coast of the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. The agreement was signed Wednesday evening between the Mauritanian Minister of Economic and Development Affairs, Sidi Ould Tah and the EU envoy at the head of a high level delegation to Mauritania, Hans-Georg Gerstenlauer. The newly signed agreement includes managing the borders and drafting a proposal about the immigration phenomenon. The strategy should provide technical advice to decision makers and participate in the control of the borders (incoming and outgoing flow) in accordance with the agreements signed by Mauritania. The Mauritanian Minister said that his country is convinced that regular and organised immigration is an enriching element for both transit and destination countries. Sidi Ould Tah stressed that Mauritania adopts the free movement principle through and into its territory, with the support of the EU. He pointed out that Mauritania is subject to an increased emigration which has become a challenge to the national mechanisms in charge of immigration. The EU envoy Gerstenlauer said the Mauritania’s special geographic position makes it the point on intersection between Arab Maghreb countries and African Sub-Sahara. This doubles the challenges Mauritania faces to work on both levels; its traditional role in receiving immigrants and at the same time ensuring stability and protecting the people and the territory. Gerstenlauer praised the new strategy – financed by the EU – as it presents a broad vision of immigration in its political, cultural and economic aspects, supported by the EU.