Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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252. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position on the migration agreements currently being negotiated by the EU with third countries such as Ethiopia and Nigeria; if he regards all of these countries as safe, politically and economically stable and capable of meeting the needs of refugees fleeing violence and conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40505/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is playing its part in support of EU measures and programmes to assist in the response to the migration crisis and, crucially, in addressing its root causes.

In a Communication on 7 June, the European Commission set out a new results-oriented concept of co-operation with third countries, the Migration Partnership Framework. On 28 June, the European Council agreed that delivering rapid results in preventing illegal migration and returning irregular migrants requires an effective Partnership Framework of cooperation with individual countries of origin or transit. Draft ‘Migration Compacts’ have now been drawn up for the first five priority countries identified. These are all in Africa: Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal and Ethiopia. The objective of a Migration Compact is to improve cooperation on readmission and return of those not entitled to reside in the EU; to prevent irregular migration and counter smuggling and trafficking in human beings; to reinforce the current international protection system for refugees in the partner countries; and to address the root causes of irregular migration. Human rights and humanitarian imperatives are at the core of the EU and Member States’ approach under the Partnership Framework. The EU and its Member States are committed to enhancing human rights safeguards in all migration and mobility dialogues and cooperation frameworks with third countries and in migration-related agreements, processes and programmes.

Discussions within the EU and with the identified countries are continuing. However, progress has been made, notably with Niger, where the fight against people-smugglers has stepped up, a dedicated agency to combat human trafficking has been established and the outgoing flow of migrants has decreased. Negotiations with Nigeria are also moving forward, with a further round expected in December.

We are supportive of the progress towards Migration Compacts to develop a comprehensive partnership between the EU and third countries, particularly in Africa, and we are working in particular with our EU colleagues on the new partnership framework for Ethiopia, one of the key partner countries for the Irish Aid programme.