EP DEVE Committee hosts AU: Cooperation progress going well but African Union stresses its funding gaps

On the eve of the negotiations for a Post-Cotonou Agreement, which will manage the relations between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states after the Cotonou agreement expires in 2020, discussions between the stakeholders areintensifying. On 24 April 2018 the Development Committee (DEVE) of the European Parliament (EP) held a joint sitting with the Delegation to the ACPGroup of Statesto discuss the reform of the African Union.Their progress for reforming the African Union was described as good, however the speakers focused on theirfunding gaps, and asked for the assistance of the EU as their “major partner”.

Country report on Eritrea claims Eritrean refugees are treated better on return

In an episode of Dutch investigative radio programme Argos, the matter of controversial country reports, which are used in asylum decisions, was raised. Anonymous sources, such as those used in reports on Afghanistan and Eritrea, have a large impact on the content of the important reports, determining (possible) return of asylum seekers. In 2017, The Netherlands made a country report on Eritrea, which received criticism for its tone, which was more positive than the 2016 report. Prof. Mirjam van Reisen explains this criticism on the Dutch radio programme Argos on NPO radio 1.

Switzerland may return Eritreans, MEPs call on Member States to focus on migration, EU Council conclusions on South Sudan

In this week’s news highlights: Switzerland assessing 3,200 Eritreans for possible deportation; European Parliament talks about migration policy reform; Macron proposes new EU fund for migration; EU Council conclusions on South Sudan; Accusations of NGO aiding human trafficking in Italy continues; Somalia retains another UAE plane; In-depth articles on youth in the Horn of Africa; Refugees International publishes report on Libya; Captive Eritreans in Israel released; And abuses of African refugees in Yemen.