Top candidate for Party of European Socialists says migration deals with Egypt and Tunisia need to be “revised”

In an interview with EuroNews, Nicolas Schmit, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights and the leading candidate for the Party of European Socialists in the June parliamentary elections, said European countries need to rethink their migration deals with Tunisia and Egypt. 

“I think we have to revise them and see what can be done, how can we do it differently because we do not know exactly how the money is used," he said in the televised interview. 

Schmit expressed concern about both corruption and the mistreatment of migrants passing through north African countries on their way to Europe. 

Schmit’s comments are in stark contrast with the views of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She has spearheaded recent deals with Tunisia, Egypt and Mauritania promising millions of dollars in exchange for help in stemming the flow of migrants to Europe.

Schmit is not alone in his criticism of the deals. Numerous European Members of Parliament have voiced their opposition, arguing that these deals reward authoritarian governments and lack transparency regarding fund allocation. Human rights groups accuse the deals of turning a blind eye to the abuse of mostly sub-Saharan migrants.