(VOVworld) - On Tuesday German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault visited Niger, one of the main countries of transit for African migrants trying to reach Europe.

Migrant crisis at Greece-Macedonian border on April 24th 2016 (Photo by: AFP)

The ministers said France and Germany will help Niger financially to reduce the causes of migration. Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou and Minister Steinmeier called for urgent action to improve the region's security and living conditions. Ayrault said Europe and Africa share the same destiny so they need to increase cooperation to meet their common challenges. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people travelled from Niger to Europe via the Mediterranean coast in 2015. This year, that number is expected to exceed 120,000. The European Union in 2015 pledged to give Niger 75 million Euros to help it reduce the causes of illegal migration.