This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6172184.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
EU and AU tackle migration crisis Funds cloud Africa migrant talks
(about 14 hours later)
Ministers from Europe and Africa are in Libya to discuss ways to stem the flow of illegal immigrants using North Africa as a transit route to Europe. Ministerial talks are under way in Libya to try to stem the flow of African migrants to Europe but face an impasse over the issue of funding.
The European Union and African Union meeting comes amid growing European concern over illegal immigration. Ministers from Europe and Africa want to adopt a declaration seeking ways to address issues like the protection of refugees and joint border patrols.
This year the Spanish authorities detained 28,000 people in the Canary Islands, while 16,000 were held on the Italian island of Lampedusa. But African ministers want migration to be linked with a multi-billion dollar development fund paid for by the EU.
The two-day meeting is the first of its kind and scale to be held on migration. The talks come amid growing European concerns at rising African immigration.
The two continents are due to adopt a declaration seeking ways to address issues like the protection of refugees, the fight against irregular migration and joint border patrol.
Click here to see the main routes taken by African migrants Click here to see the main routes taken by African migrants
A join action plan to combat the slave trade, especially in women and children, is also expected to be agreed. This year the Spanish authorities detained 28,000 people in the Canary Islands, while 16,000 were held on the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Economic divide The two-day meeting is the first of its kind and scale to be held on the issue.
European and North African countries face a growing number of illegal immigrants. A join action plan to combat the slave trade, especially in women and children, is expected to be agreed.
Libya and Morocco are North Africa's biggest launch pads for sub-Saharan Africans who make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean. 'Combating poverty'
Ministers from more than 50 European and African countries are meeting in Libya.
We hope most people will be serious to solve this problem, but I am not sure they will be serious - I think this is just propaganda Muammar GaddafiWe hope most people will be serious to solve this problem, but I am not sure they will be serious - I think this is just propaganda Muammar Gaddafi
Europe has repeatedly asked both countries to step up their efforts to curb the flow. But BBC correspondents say progress could become deadlocked over financial proposals.
At the start of proceedings, Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelrahmane Chalgham said that "repressive solutions alone are not enough to fight against illegal immigration".
Libya has called on the EU to give Africa $10bn (7.8bn euros; £5.2bn) a year for development projects to prevent people from leaving their countries.Libya has called on the EU to give Africa $10bn (7.8bn euros; £5.2bn) a year for development projects to prevent people from leaving their countries.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said "the EU's commitment to African development is total". Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelrahmane Chalgham said the development money was needed to combat poverty, which was fuelling migration, and the problem could not be solved by repressive measures alone.
"The EU attaches great importance to regional approaches on migration," he said. Morocco proposed a "joint fund with voluntary contributions" to develop projects in African countries, but its Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa said European representatives were not keen.
The EU has offered 1.5m euros ($1.9m; £1m) to support an Italian project to monitor Libya's border with Niger - an operation which has been attacked by rights groups. Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, stressed "the EU's commitment to African development is total".
So far Libya has refused permission to European nations to patrol its territorial waters. But Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has cast doubts on the talks.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says the conference host and Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, has low expectations, suggesting that the joint Euro-African talks might be a sham.
"We hope most people will be serious to solve this problem. But I am not sure they will be serious. I think this is just propaganda," he said."We hope most people will be serious to solve this problem. But I am not sure they will be serious. I think this is just propaganda," he said.
Our correspondent says it will be interesting to see how the two continents address the economic divide that is at the root of their dilemma. European and North African countries face a growing number of illegal immigrants.
Libya and Morocco are North Africa's biggest launch pads for sub-Saharan Africans who make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.
Europe has repeatedly asked both countries to step up their efforts to curb the flow.
Click to return Click to return