EU's Billions Fail to Curb African Migration Efforts
- The EU's Emergency Trust Fund for Africa was established in 2015 to address the root causes of migration, with funding increasing from 1.8 billion euros to about 5 billion euros.
- Auditors found that the EU commission has not effectively identified strategies to reduce irregular migration and has inadequately addressed human rights risks, particularly in Libya.
- The report concludes that despite significant financial investment, the EU is failing to achieve its goals in curbing unauthorized migration from Africa.
The European Union's financial watchdog has reported that the bloc is struggling to effectively discourage unauthorized migration from Africa, despite spending billions on initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of migration. Established in 2015, the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa was created in response to the influx of over one million migrants, primarily fleeing conflict in Syria. Initially funded with 1.8 billion euros, the program's budget has now increased to approximately 5 billion euros. Lead auditor Bettina Jakobsen highlighted that the EU commission has not successfully identified the most effective strategies to reduce irregular migration. She emphasized the need for targeted aid that addresses urgent needs in specific regions and countries. Furthermore, the report raised concerns about the commission's handling of human rights risks, noting inadequate procedures for tracking allegations of rights abuses, particularly in Libya, a key departure point for migrants. The auditors pointed out that EU assistance to Libya's migration department has been linked to serious human rights violations, including accusations of crimes against humanity. Despite these claims, the commission has rejected the allegations. Additionally, the report criticized the use of EU funds for maritime surveillance, warning that equipment could be misused by unintended actors. The commission acknowledged the need for improvements and plans to enhance its capacity to identify and mitigate risks in high-risk sectors. As of last year, the fund has facilitated the voluntary return of over 73,000 migrants to their home countries, but the overall effectiveness of the program remains in question.