The European Union signed an agreement with the Malian Government with an objective of enabling the return of migrants who have reached Europe's shores, and whose asylum requests have been refused. <br/><br/>A statement from the Dutch<br/>foreign ministry yesterday, which signed the agreement on the EU's behalf said that agreement seeks to address the root causes of illegal migration and to enable the return from Europe of Malian<br/>migrants.<br/><br/>The agreement came after a summit in the Maltese capital Valletta in November 2015, when EU leaders agreed with their African counterparts to set up a 1.8-billion-euro fund to help address the root causes of migration.<br/><br/>In return, African countries would step up border controls and accept the repatriation of those who make it to Europe, however are judged to have no right to remain.<br/><br/>The EU-Mali agreement, which will be presented in Brussels on Monday, is necessary, according to Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, whose country will have the EU's rotating presidency from the New Year.