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to welcome the Communication on "Establishing a New Partnership Framework" and to underline that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement;
to highlight that local and regional authorities can and should play a role in the joint effort with the EU and national level and with third countries to implement comprehensive migration partnerships (compacts;)
to support the short term objective to save lives in the Mediterranean sea and the aim to increase the rate of returns to countries of origin and transit and enable migrants and refugees to stay as close as possible to their homes;
to note however the need to strike a careful balance between returns and targeted migration;
to underline the need for EU, as well as reducing the possibilities for irregular entry, to put in place pathways for people to come to the EU legally- whether to seek international protection, or to seek work, education, research or investment opportunities;

See pages 6-20 of the follow-up report drafted by the European Commission: https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Documents/Opinions/73threportCoRFollow-upopinions.pdf

THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

 welcomes the Communication on "Establishing a New Partnership Framework", as it underlines the fact that the migration problem is complex and has to be tackled on different levels;

 supports and acknowledges the need for the EU to speak with a single voice and to involve all relevant stakeholders and institutions. Local and regional authorities can and should play a role in the joint effort with the EU and national level and with third countries to implement comprehensive migration partnerships (compacts);

 calls for establishment of hotspots to third countries, for people requesting international protection;

 agrees that the EU needs to put in place pathways for people to come to the EU legally - whether to seek international protection, or to seek work, education, research or investment opportunities;

 fully supports the short term objective to save lives in the Mediterranean sea; supports the aim to increase the rate of returns and readmission to countries of origin and enable migrants and refugees to stay as close as possible to their homes and to avoid embarking on dangerous journeys to reach Europe;

 welcomes the proposed External Investment Plan package for Africa and EU Neighbourhood countries aimed at mobilising investments and boosting job creation in partner countries;

 urges, therefore, the EC to involve the CoR in the design of the plan as the voice of local and regional authorities in the EU, many of which have extensive experience in development cooperation.