Every year, between 300,000 and 450,000 uninvited guests cross Europe's borders, despite protests from European authorities and the dangers of the journey. Together with refugees seeking political asylum on European soil, that number reaches half a million. The strategy of tightening border controls has led nowhere. Disillusioned with the possibilities of the "stick", European states are trying to offer the countries that supply illegal immigrants a tasty "carrot".
Just a few years ago, the bulk of illegal migrants were from North Africa. Now they have been joined by immigrants from sub-Saharan countries. According to the European Commission, 20,000 Algerians are ready at any moment to move to the neighboring country of Morocco to storm the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and from there proceed further into Europe. Among Moroccans, there are no fewer than 10,000 such would-be migrants. In 2005, attempts by illegal migrants to enter Ceuta and Melilla led to mass clashes with Moroccan security forces, during which 11 people were killed and hundreds were wounded.
Conference participants believe that the real cause of the influx of illegal migrants into Europe is poverty and low rates of development in African states. Spain initiated the new strategy for relations between the two continents. Separated from Africa by only a narrow strait, it receives the bulk of immigrants. Madrid presented a package of measures at the conference aimed at improving the economic situation in the African region. €190 million are planned for vaccinating the population, and another €28 million are to be transferred to the African Development Fund. An increase in economic aid to Morocco is also envisaged, which has already received €10.5 million in the form of equipment for border checkpoints.
"We do not want to criminalize the phenomenon of immigration," say officials of the Spanish Foreign Ministry who wished to remain anonymous in an interview with the newspaper El País. "But we call on African states to show greater awareness and take control of the chaotic exodus of Africans to Europe. Above all, it hits these very states, which are losing the most active part of their population." The conference discussed not only economic aid, but also stronger cooperation between European and African migration services. In June 2005, Madrid signed a declaration with Cape Verde on the phased repatriation of natives of that country living illegally in Spain. At the current forum, a similar declaration is to be signed with Guinea-Bissau.