Senegal: bastion of democracy, migration priority for the EU

Please note: Each In-Depth Analysis is assigned a DOI (digital object identifier), which is a safe and long term way of ensuring a hyperlink to the full text of this report. However, when ESO creates this record, on occasion the DOI still has not been activated by the EU Bookshop. If you find the source url hyperlink does not work please use the alternative location hyperlink listed as a related url.Senegal is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. Free and fair presidential elections in March 2012, for which the EU deployed an Election Expert Mission (EEM), brought Macky Sall to the presidency. The regular organisation of legislative elections, political pluralism, a free press, and a vibrant civil society are all proof of Senegal's democratic culture.

Senegal has a long tradition of migration to the EU and other African countries, and today 5% of its population live abroad. Remittances account for more than 10% of GDP. As a priority partner in the Migration Partnership Framework, Senegal has been constructive in the political dialogue on migration, while maintaining its position that more should be done on legal migration into the EU. Senegal is one of the main benificiaries of the EU Trust Fund. Development cooperation, still at the core of relations with Senegal, has been structured to ensure increased coordination between the EU, Member States, and the Senegalese authorities.

The challenge going forward will be to ensure that Senegal honours its commitments on the readmission of irregular migrants, and encourage progress on human rights.

• Primary Source

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

Council of the European Union: Policies: Finding solutions to migratory pressures: Working with countries of origin and transit: A new migration partnership framework http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/migratory-pressures/countries-origin-transit/migration-partnership-framework/

European Commission: COM (2018) 250 (14.03.18): Progress report on the implementation of the European Agenda on Migration http://www.europeansources.info/record/progress-report-on-the-implementation-of-the-european-agenda-on-migration/

EU: EEAS: Senegal and the EU https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/senegal_en/11756/Senegal%20and%20the%20EU

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