EU seeks Africa money to pay for migrant screening centres

By Associated Press Reporters

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has urged EU member countries to put more money into an Africa trust fund as the bloc looks to set up migrant screening centres outside Europe.

Ms Mogherini said the fund "has proven to be useful" and has "brought results", adding: "This is why we are asking for more money from member states."

EU leaders are set later this week to give the go-ahead to plans to screen migrants for eligibility as asylum-seekers at centres in countries including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Niger and Tunisia.

The plans mirror a deal that the EU clinched with Turkey in 2015 aimed at encouraging Ankara to stop refugees setting out for the Greek islands.

That deal has cost more than three billion euros.

Pic by AP Photo/Santi Palacios