Leaders meeting in Brussels examines Euro bloc budget and institutional issues
EU leaders will meet today with representatives of the ‘G5 Sahel’ nations of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. On the agenda will be an increase in counter-terror funding and assistance, as well as new dialogue over how to ease the migratory pressures on Europe that have emanated from West and North Africa.
Coming amidst the renewed threat of attacks against major European cities in recent years, the EU is determined to boost its unified border control operations and external security cooperation. EU members such as France have in recent years deployed significant military assistance to nations such as Mali and Burkina Faso to help stem fast growing terrorist insurgencies and migratory movements. Part humanitarian and development assistance, the EU is also looking to tackle the root causes of threats to its security and migration challenges.
With large-scale migration and terror having heavily influenced recent political upheaval in Europe, expect the EU to advance additional assistance to the G5 Sahel nations over the short-term. Today’s actions are likely to become part of wider European efforts to enlist external assistance to boost European security.
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