Mauritania, EU ink €10.5-m grant deal

The European Union has provided Mauritania with a €10.5 million grant as the European bloc expressed keenness to support the North African country in many areas including the fight against illegal migration.

Mauritanian Justice Minister Mohamed Mahmoud Ben Abdoullah Ben Baya who also doubles as the country’s interim Foreign Minister signed the deal with Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas, on Wednesday October 11, Mauritania’s State-run news agency AMI reports.

The agency did not provide further details of the deal but said both sides discussed all issues of common interest, including those related to irregular migration. Schinas also stressed the EU’s commitment to support Mauritania.

Mauritania, due its geographical position, has become an important transit site for migratory movements, including for irregular migrants journeying to Europe, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) notes.