On 29th and 30th September 2022, a high-level thematic meeting of the Rabat Process on “State Cooperation as Key to Success in Labour Migration” will take place in Malaga, co-chaired by Spain and Nigeria.

Labour migration is increasingly at the top of the international debate and agenda. In a globalised world, labour migration offers new opportunities for countries of origin and destination that will help to address some of the existing challenges, such as labour shortages in certain sectors or the demographic challenge. The upcoming Rabat Process meeting on labour migration will offer participating countries and organisations the opportunity to address collaboration and cooperation between third countries and the EU in the field of labour migration, promote the analysis and exchange of ideas on the subject, as well as identify challenges, needs and good practices.

Labour migration within the Rabat Process

The meeting builds on previous work on labour migration within the framework of the Rabat Process, such as a virtual thematic meeting on labour migration that took place in December 2021, co-chaired by Portugal and Cabo Verde. The upcoming meeting is in line with the objectives contained in Domain 2 of the Marrakesh Action Plan, which focuses on legal migration and includes two objectives:

  • Objective 3: Promote regular migration & mobility (especially young people, women)
  • Objective 4: Encourage facilitation of visa issuing procedures

Exchanging perspectives and good practices

Over the course of two days, participants will delve into the topic of cooperation in the field of labour migration during four moderated panel discussions.

The first day will focus on the African perspectives on labour migration and the prospects of the European Dialogue partner countries as destination countries. In order to find appropriate ways to harness the benefits of labour migration, it is necessary to listen to the needs and challenges that countries of origin and transit are facing. At the same time, the perspective of destination countries is also fundamental to regulating successful policies. Common strategies must be sought for the benefit of all those involved.

The morning of the second day will be dedicated to exchanging good practices of Euro-African and intra-African cooperation in the area of labour migration, knowing that most African workers stay on the continent. There will be examples of effective cooperation on legal migration between countries of the Rabat Process and data on labour migration flows shared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The final panel discussion will look at how a multi-stakeholder approach may strengthen cooperation on labour migration.

Representatives of partner countries and organisations of the Rabat Process are invited to register until 8th September 2022:
Register