Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development (Rabat Process)

Type: Inter-regional forum on migration (regions covered: Africa -Europe)

Established: 2006

Objectives

The Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development (Rabat Process) brings together European and African countries from North, West and Central Africa, as well as the European Commission (EC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with a view to tackling questions arising from migration issues. The Rabat Process provides a framework for consultation and coordination; contributes to meeting the challenges posed by migration; and encourages opportunities for exchange and development. 

Current Thematic Focus

There are currently four thematic pillars. Irregular migration, and migration & development were recognised as the two priority areas under the Rome declaration and action plan 2015-2017.

1. Organising legal migration and mobility
2. Improving border management and preventing and combating irregular migration
3. Strengthening the synergies between migration and development
4. Promoting international protection

The Network of Focal Points

Each national administration and organization involved in the Rabat Process is represented by a Focal Point. These contact points share their knowledge at the dialogue meetings or identify national experts to do so in order to always ensure their country's high quality technical inputs to these meetings. The network of focal points is the backbone of the Rabat Process and contributes significantly to the continuing success of the dialogue. 

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the strategic governing body of the Rabat Process. Its role is to stimulate cooperation between participating States, to prepare the political orientation of the dialogue and to follow up on the implementation of the ministerial declarations. It included five African countries (Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Morocco and Senegal) and five European countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain), as well as the European Commission and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS ). The Steering Committee guides the dialogue according to its “Operating Modalities” and the priorities established at the different levels of dialogue. 

Reference Countries

A system of reference countries partners to volunteer to coordinate and undertake activities within a particular domain of the Marrakesh Action Plan , in collaboration with other reference countries. This system enables countries to take ownership of the Marrakesh Action Plan, promotes coordination between partner countries and strengthens the geographical balance and representation of all interests.  

Current reference countries:

• Domain 1: Nigeria 
• Domain 2: Cabo Verde and Portugal
• Domain 3: Switzerland
• Domain 4: Ivory Coast, Niger and Spain
• Domain 5: Cameroon and Togo

For more information, visit the Rabat Process website .

The Chair

The Steering Committee is presided by its Chair who is also the Rabat Process Chair. The chair rotates periodically between the African and European members of the Steering Committee, which contributes to the dialogue's balanced governance. The purpose and duty of the chair is to contribute to the advancement of the dialogue, foster ownership and maintain the momentum created at dialogue meetings. 

Secretariat

The Secretariat was established to facilitate the dialogue process and generally focuses on three areas:

• Support to the dialogue via the organization of meetings and the development of communication tools
• Coordination, knowledge management, sharing of good practices among the dialogue partners
• Additional activities aimed at building the capacities of partner countries to support the implementation of the objectives set in the dialogue strategic framework

The Secretariat is currently funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in the framework of the project “Support to Africa-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue (MMD)”. The current cycle is the fifth phase of the Support Project and covers the period 2018-2020. 

Members

Member States [Rabat Process refers to these as “partner States”] (57 States, including 27 African countries and 31 European countries)

• Austria
• Belgium
• Benin
• Bulgaria
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Germany
• Ghana
• Greece
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guinea
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liberia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Mali
• Malta
• Morocco
• Mauritania
• Netherlands
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Slovak
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Togo
• Tunisia
• United Kingdom

* Since the Rabat Process Ministerial Conference, held in November 2014, Egypt and Libya are no longer members of the Rabat Process. The option to join again remains open to them.

Member Organizations [Rabat Process refers to these as “partner organizations”] (2 organizations)

• European Commission
• Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Chairing country

A rotating Chair system is in place whereby the Chair alternates between African and European member States of the Steering Committee.
Current Chair: Morocco (2022-2023)
Past Chairs: Spain (2021-2022) Equatorial Guinea (2021), France (2019-2020), Burkina Faso (2018), Belgium (2017), Mali (2016)

Observers

Observer States (1 country)

• Algeria

Observer Organizations (9 organizations)

• African Development Bank
• EU External Borders Agency (Frontex)
• International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• World Bank