A migration deal that goes further than just stopping migrants – if it were up to the German government, this would be the aim of an agreement that they want to conclude with the government of the West African Gambia.
The Germans want to prevent migrant workers from doing business with human smugglers, who bring them to Europe via often life-threatening routes. Moreover, Germany has a labor shortage – so a migration deal could be a win-win situation.
'Legal migration' is the key, says a recently appointed 'representative for migration agreements' in Berlin. His plan for a Gambia deal, which comes from the man who also devised the Turkey deal, seems simple: Germany gives more work visas to Gambian migrants and sends new 'irregular' migrants straight back to Banjul.
However, that is exactly where the problem lies, I heard in Gambia: many Gambians do not want those 'failed migrants' to be sent back at all, and are putting pressure on the government to stop returnees. I have written down what is behind this in this report for the Volkskrant.
With the collaboration of Kebba Ansu Manneh and photos by Guy Peterson.