EU's African Migration Fund Falls Short, Auditors Warn

The European Union's efforts to address unauthorized migration from Africa have come under scrutiny, as revealed by a recent report from the European Court of Auditors. The audit focused on the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, a program initiated in 2015 in response to the influx of over 1 million migrants to European shores.

Initially established with 1.8 billion euros, the fund has since grown to approximately 5 billion euros. Its primary objective was to tackle root causes of migration, such as poverty and unemployment. However, the auditors' findings suggest that the program has fallen short of its goals.

Bettina Jakobsen, the lead EU auditor, highlighted several key issues:

"Despite the lessons learned ... the commission is still unable to identify and report the most efficient and effective approaches to reducing irregular migration."

The report emphasizes the need for more targeted aid distribution and improved human rights considerations. Notably, the auditors uncovered weaknesses in recording and following up on human rights violation allegations, particularly in Libya.

The EU's involvement in Libya's migration management has faced criticism, with a UN-appointed investigator suggesting that EU assistance may have inadvertently contributed to human rights abuses. The European Commission has rejected these allegations.

Maritime surveillance efforts, aimed at reducing deaths at sea, have also come under scrutiny. The International Organization for Migration estimates that approximately 30,000 people have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean since 2014. The auditors warned of potential misuse of EU-funded equipment and inadequate commitment to the "do-no-harm" principle among trained personnel.

A striking example of the program's shortcomings is the maritime rescue coordination center on the Libyan coast. Despite millions of euros allocated and equipment provided since 2017, the center remains non-operational after seven years.

In response to the audit, the Commission has acknowledged the need for improvements, particularly in risk mitigation and human rights protection. They highlighted some positive outcomes, including the voluntary return of 73,215 migrants to their home countries and the creation or support of 11,087 jobs in the first half of 2023.

This report comes at a crucial time for EU migration policy. The European Union, founded in 1993, has been grappling with migration challenges for years. The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, significantly contributed to the refugee crisis that prompted the creation of the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

The EU has implemented various measures to address migration, including the establishment of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in 2004 and the adoption of the Common European Asylum System in 1999. More recently, the European Commission proposed the New Pact on Migration and Asylum in 2020, aiming to improve the EU's approach to migration management.

As the EU continues to refine its migration policies, the findings of this audit underscore the complexity of the issue and the need for more effective, rights-based approaches to address the root causes of migration while ensuring the protection of those seeking safety and better opportunities.