A “common African position paper” leaked to the Guardian reveals that the African Union is determined to kill off the EU’s plan to build "regional disembarkation platforms" on African soil. The paper says that the platforms would breach international law by establishing “de facto detention centres”, violating the rights of African migrants. The 55-member state body wants to dissuade its coastal states from cooperating with Brussels, concerned that some might be persuaded by the offer of development funds. The EU set plans for the centres last summer but received rejections from African states.