Politicians across Europe have long been grappling with the issue of irregular migration, and their attempts to stem the influx of people across the Mediterranean – often by force – have yielded mixed results. But an $8.1 billion agreement signed last week between the EU and Egypt has attracted attention as the most prominent example so far of an alternative approach - investing more heavily in Africa - to address the reasons people leave in the first place.

The agreement has not come without scrutiny, with senior MEPs saying Europe is ‘bankrolling dictators’ in Egypt and Tunisia. On this episode Katya is joined by BBC population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty, and the Atlantic Council’s Alissa Pavia, to discuss the implications of outsourcing Europe’s migration policy.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus, Beth Timmins, and Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Is Europe’s migration plan ‘bankrolling dictators’ in North Africa? 23:33 Share

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Is Europe’s migration plan ‘bankrolling dictators’ in North Africa?