France's President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his desire to handle the migrant problem at the European level, expressing his hope for a new agreement between Europe and Africa to prevent migration.
"One of my goals during the French presidency (of the European Union (EU)) is to try to rebuild a peace and friendship agreement with Africa, one aspect of which will be how Europeans give African youth access to opportunities on their continent," Macron said at a charity dinner organized in Paris by a network of businessmen.
French President added that the European should think of a much better-organized immigration policy with countries of origin, especially with Africa.
He called for better protection against illegal immigration, systematic return of clandestine immigrants to their countries, and reform of the Schengen area.
Macron warns of immigration pressures that are much stronger than in recent years, in societies that are experiencing an integration crisis, as well as people coming from some countries that are difficult to integrate.
He went to say that the European countries must improve policies of integration, including those who have been in the continent for a long time, and at the same time try to prevent the coming of new arrivals because this is intolerable for our communities and the European continent because a large majority of those who arrive to seek asylum are not eligible for asylum.
He stressed that most of those who come to seek asylum come from countries with which the European countries have perfect diplomatic relations and we give them tens if not hundreds of thousands of visas.
After a year they are settled, often in an illegal situation, and able to build a normal life," he added.
He continued to say that he can be convinced as a person that in each inpidual case, they must be kept, but as president, I cannot say that this situation is sustainable, because this empties asylum of its meaning.
He called for a distinction between asylum and other forms of immigration.
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