The Prime Minister has told a summit of the European Council in Malta that a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach is needed to the issue of migrants trying to reach Europe to escape civil war in their own countries.
Theresa May said that this would include working hard in support of an inclusive political settlement to stabilise Libya – which would not only help to tackle migration flows, but also the risk of terrorism.
“It means working to reduce the pull factors that encourage people to risk their lives, building the capacity of the Libyans to return migrants to their own shores, treat them with dignity and help them return home,” she said.
Mrs May added that it meant “looking beyond Libya and moving further upstream”, including urgently implementing the EU’s External Investment Plan to help create more opportunities in migrants’ home countries.
Any initiative should also involve helping genuine refugees to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – and distinguishing more effectively between economic migrants and refugees and swiftly returning those who have no right to remain.
The Prime Minister said that this would deter others thinking of embarking on perilous journeys to Europe.
The European Council agreed action in all of these areas.
The Prime Minister also said:
“Britain is already playing a leading role in the region and at this summit I announce further steps, including additional support for the Libyan coastguard and more than £30 million of new aid for the most vulnerable refugees across Greece, the Balkans, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan and Libya.
“Britain is also setting up an £8m special protection fund to keep men, women and children in the Mediterranean region safe from trafficking, sexual violence and labour exploitation, as part of our commitment to tackle modern slavery.
“And the council agreed with my call that we should do everything possible to deter this horrific crime – including by introducing tough penalties for those who trade in human misery, and by working together to secure the necessary evidence for prosecutions that can put these criminals behind bars where they belong.”
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