EU: The Khartoum Process: "needs-based reintegration assistance" for people returned to Sudan
23 April 2018
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EU
The Khartoum Process: "needs-based reintegration assistance" for people returned to Sudan
23.4.18
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In response to a parliamentary question from Kathleen Van Brempt MEP, the European Commission has provided some information on the Khartoum Process concerning migration within and from the Horn of Africa and its efforts concerning return and "reintegration" to Sudan: "The Facility will provide 4 200 already returned persons, including from Europe, with needs-based reintegration assistance that aims to address the social, economic and psychosocial dimensions of reintegration."
22 January 2018
Question for written answer to the Commission (E-000312-18)
Rule 130
Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D)
Subject: EU cooperation with partner countries in the Horn of Africa on return, readmission and reintegration
Since 2016, the thematic meetings of the Khartoum Process have been focusing on visa facilitation and return, readmission and reintegration of migrants, therefore widening the mandate of the process and providing a political framework for cooperation. However, the Action Fiche for the implementation of the Horn of Africa Window on the ‘Facility on Sustainable and Dignified Return and Reintegration in support of the Khartoum Process’ specifies that no readmission agreements are currently in place between the EU and the countries of the Horn of Africa.
Could the Commission please specify all the concrete actions which have been taken so far within this framework to facilitate returns from EU Member States to partner countries in the Horn of Africa, and more specifically Sudan?
18 April 2018
Answer given by Mr Mimica on behalf of the Commission
The main focus of the Khartoum process is fighting human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.
The ‘Facility on Sustainable and Dignified Return and Reintegration in support of the Khartoum Process’(1) (the Facility), funded through the EU Trust Fund for Africa(2), does not finance return operations from EU Member States either voluntary or forced. These remain EU Member States' mandate.
The Facility will provide 4 200 already returned persons, including from Europe, with needs-based reintegration assistance that aims to address the social, economic and psychosocial dimensions of reintegration.
By 30 November 2017, 664 reintegration cases were ongoing, of which 439 are Sudanese (436 who returned voluntarily from Libya and three who returned voluntarily from Ethiopia).
Returns from Europe are carried out by Member States according to the rules and under the safeguards established by the EC law and the applicable international law.
Readmission of own nationals is an obligation under international law and as such can and does take place under Member States bilateral readmission arrangements or agreements.
(1) Action Document was approved on 15 December 2016 and is available on the EU Trust Fund website: https://ec.europa.eu/trustfundforafrica/node/139
(2) https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/eu-emergency-trust-fund-africa-20171218_en.pdf
Further reading
Beyond the borders: overview of "external migration dialogues and processes" (August 2016)
New proposals on migration: "partnerships" with third countries, Blue Card reform, integration plan (June 2016)
EU-Africa: The 'Khartoum Process': beefing up borders in east Africa (October 2015)
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