(Politico) African countries will have to stem migrant departures if they want to continue receiving EU development aid, the European Commission will suggest as part of its seven-year budget plan to be unveiled next week.
The idea, which is outlined in an internal draft document seen by POLITICO, links the EU’s help for poorer countries to concrete results in preventing people coming to the bloc.
It reflects the EU executive’s hardening approach toward migration after right-wing parties secured substantial support in last year’s European election. The shift would see the EU’s development agenda align with that of the U.S. and the U.K., both of whom use foreign aid as leverage to deliver on the priorities of domestic voters.
