Dutch contribution to Africa Fund top

valletta - The contribution of the Netherlands to the new Africa fund of 15 million shows the highest contribution of any participating country. Thursday, the leaders of the European Union in the Maltese capital of Valletta signed the deed for the establishment of the fund.

The fund is up to 1.87 billion euros. Thereof is 1.8 billion euro from the EU budget. Individual countries, 25 EU countries and Norway and Switzerland have pledged contributions to a total of 78 million euros.

The money will be used to address key causes of migration, in order to improve economic conditions in African countries and to give people a greater perspective. It is to prevent that Africans make the crossing to Europe.

Italy has pledged 10 million euros. A number of countries including Belgium, Germany, France, Austria and Spain, each pledged 3 million euros. Greece, Cyprus and Croatia deposit anything.

" If we want the trust fund for Africa and our approach credible, more Member States should contribute ", stated Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission.

Leaders of the EU and Africa are Wednesday and Thursday in Valletta to discuss a joint approach to migration. In the spring made ​​a lot of refugees from Somalia and Eritrea include the crossing to Europe in packed, often rickety boats. In exchange for money and other forms of support to Africa should include the African countries migrants who are not entitled to protection and asylum in Europe have to return again to their country of origin.