The United Kingdom will invest £84 million (approximately €100 million) in projects in the Middle East and Africa to alleviate the migration crisis, seeking to tackle the root causes of illegal migration. The announcement was made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the European Political Community (EPC) meeting held at Blenheim Palace, near Oxford.

The funding aims to address the root causes of migration, focusing on areas such as humanitarian support, skills training, job creation, and access to education, seeking to increase local communities' resilience to war and climate change. This investment is part of a broader effort to address the migration crisis sustainably and effectively.

Furthermore, the United Kingdom also intends to increase its presence at Interpol and sign new cooperation agreements with several European countries to share information and data, thus strengthening international efforts to combat migrant smuggling and improve global security.

Combating Illegal Migration

The £84 million will be used to support a variety of initiatives, including humanitarian and health projects, skills training, job creation and access to education in various regions of Africa and the Middle East.

These efforts aim primarily to create better conditions in migrants' regions of origin, thereby reducing migratory pressure on Europe. The funding will be distributed over three years and aims to address factors such as conflicts, climate change, and humanitarian crises, which are some of the main causes of irregular migration.

The British Prime Minister emphasized that, to effectively address the migration crisis, it is crucial to work in partnership with European countries and the Global South. International collaboration will enable a more coordinated and efficient response, helping to stabilize the affected regions and improve the living conditions of local populations.

Support for Local Communities

These programs aim not only to provide immediate relief but also to create a lasting impact on communities, promoting self-sufficiency and long-term stability. Furthermore, funding will include initiatives to increase local communities' resilience to global shocks such as military conflicts and climate change.

In regions like Sudan, where millions of people have been displaced due to military conflict, humanitarian aid will include the provision of food, water, shelter, and healthcare. This assistance is essential to stabilize communities and allow people to remain in their home regions, thus reducing the need for migration to other areas.

International Cooperation on Migration

“To end illegal migration, we must also combat it at its source.”

To this end, the United Kingdom will increase its presence at Interpol, with a special focus on the European Centre for Combating Migrant Smuggling.

New cooperation agreements will also be signed with Slovenia and Slovakia, aiming to strengthen cooperation in the fight against organized crime, as well as joint work with the European Union to share information and data, improving the effectiveness of joint efforts to combat these criminal activities, seeking to effectively protect the UK's borders.

Combating immigration was one of the main topics of this CPE meeting, along with other issues such as climate change. Starmer also emphasized that cooperation in the areas of defense and security is essential to address this global challenge.

The meeting was attended by 47 European leaders, most from the European Union, but also from countries such as Albania, Serbia, and Azerbaijan. The next meeting will take place in Hungary later this year, followed by Albania and Denmark in 2025.

Conclusion

International cooperation and the implementation of global development programs are essential to achieve this goal and ensure security both nationally and globally, while reducing migratory pressure on Europe.

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