Strengthening Migration Partnerships Between Africa and Europe: Insights from PMG Meetings in Brussels and Addis Ababa

Recognizing this need for exchange amongst migration experts in the two continents, FES AMPC together with FES EU Office and the Foundation of European Progressive Studies (FEPS) set up the Progressive Working Group on Migration (PMG) at the end of 2022. Composed of over 20 African and European experts on migration, the PMG has had regular meetings on topics that are of collective concern for migration actors in both continents.

In 2024, the PMG convened in June to discuss three main topics of the EU-Africa migration dialogue. These topics touched upon a development and right based approach to migration and development, migrant centered approaches to legal pathways and legal migration as well as the impact of the new EU Asylum pact on the human rights of migrants in Europe. Following this consultation, selected members of the PMG held policy visits to Brussels and Addis Ababa in September 2024 and January 2025 respectively.

During the meeting in Brussels, members of the PMG met with EU institutions, European policymakers, and advocacy organizations working on migration governance on 11-12 September 2024. The meeting highlighted the contradiction between EU migration policies, that primarily focus on securitization, and the growing labor shortages leading to the increased demand in labor migration Europe is facing at the moment. Experts urged EU migration actors that it is important to design long term and realistic migration cooperation frameworks that are shaped by data and evidence as opposed to right-wing, anti-migrant rhetoric dominating migration discourse in Europe. Visa restrictions were identified as a major barrier for African professionals, students, and businesspeople, limiting access to education, employment, and trade.

Building on this, the PMG also held another delegation visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 30-31 January 2025. The expert group held a public roundtable attended by EU embassies, experts and development partners based in Addis on the first day of the delegation visit. In addition to that, the expert group held bilateral meetings with the African Union Commission, the EU Delegation to Ethiopia, the EU Delegation to the AU, and experts from the EU member state embassies in Ethiopia.

The meeting with the African Union (AU) highlighted the PMG's efforts to advance progressive migration policies, particularly enhancing legal pathways within Africa and with neighboring regions. AU officials from the Labor, Employment and Migration Division emphasized the need for continued collaboration with platforms such as the PMG in an effort to establish effective policy frameworks for migrants, their families and both sending and receiving countries.

Similarly, discussions with the EU and member state delegations focused on facilitating the return and readmission of undocumented African migrants as this forms part of the duties of the EU and of countries of origin. While recognizing the importance of return cooperation, however, the PMG members stressed the importance of framing return and readmission within a broader migration context, emphasizing legal pathways for students and workers and sustainable employment opportunities in countries of origin like Ethiopia which currently faces a visa ban due to lack of return cooperation.

The PMG remains committed to contributing progressive and migrant centered approaches to migration cooperation between Africa and Europe and will continue to address key policy challenges in 2025 as well.

Please click here for recommendations of the PMG in 2024 and 2025.