THE Spanish prime minister announced a series of agreements with the West African nation of Mauritania on Tuesday to stem a surge in migrants making the dangerous Atlantic journey to the Canary Islands.

Speaking alongside Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in Nouakchott, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will expand its circular migration programme to Mauritanians and renew co-operation between the two nations’ security forces to combat people-smuggling and trafficking networks.

Mr Sanchez said: “Despite the rhetoric that is growing in Europe, migration is not a problem.”