GETTY Federica Mogherini is confident the EU/Africa deal will be a success

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Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal have entered into a €425million (£379.5m) agreement with Europe to try and stem the flow of migrants heading into the eurozone for economic purposes. The EU high representative for foreign affairs, Federica Mogherini, said: “We are starting to see the very first operational results on ground.” The number of migrants coming from Niger is already decreasing and the EU is carrying out work in Mali and Senegal to ensure similar results there.

One key tactic, being enforced in Ethiopia, is to provide adequate employment opportunities on the ground so locals do not have to leave their countries of origin to find work. Networks of smugglers and human traffickers are also being crushed and migrants are now being returned to their own nations. The EU Africa Trust Fund intends to roll out 24 programmes by the end of the year as part of the Partnership Framework designed to solve the issues leading Africans to feel the need to come to Europe.

GETTY The deal will quell the numbers of migrants coming from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Niger, Mali and Senegal

At the end of day, the measure of success will be the rate of returns Senior EU official

A senior EU official said: “Most of member states will expect results in December. “At the end of day, the measure of success will be the rate of returns." If the scheme is a success, it could be widened to incorporate other African nations, EU officials confirmed.

GETTY Federica Mogherini admits the deal may take time to work

Lebanon and Jordan could also be given similar support in return for housing hundreds of thousands of refugees. Mr Mogherini ruled out such an agreement with Libya, where the majority of migrants crossing the central Mediterranean come from, because of the current security turmoil there.

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