Despite billions of euros invested in the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) to curb irregular migration from Africa, Europe is facing a new wave of migration, highlighting the shortcomings of a mechanism that was supposed to stem the crisis.
The Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) was created in 2015 with a budget of 5 billion euros. Its aim is to stabilize regions in Africa and address the root causes of instability and irregular migration.
However, the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report 17/2024, published in 2024, highlights problems in the implementation of this fund.
By the end of 2023, around 4.5 billion euros, or almost 90 per cent of the budget, had been spent. These funds are mainly distributed between the Sahel and Lake Chad (2.3 billion euros), the Horn of Africa (1.9 billion) and North Africa (921 million).
Despite this investment, the report highlights that the Fund’s objectives are too broad and cover too many different areas, making it difficult to target resources effectively on urgent problems. For example, projects funded in Mali, Ethiopia and Libya have not always responded to local needs.
Some initiatives, such as the creation of a radio station for young people in the Sahel, have proven to be of little relevance. Others, such as the rehabilitation of historical sites in Libya, were deemed inappropriate given the urgency of the migration crisis.
The report also criticizes the lack of attention to human rights in the operations, particularly in Libya. While monitoring mechanisms have been put in place, rights violations have not always been well documented, calling into question the effectiveness of the fund in upholding the principle of “do no harm”.
The report also notes a lack of reliable data to assess whether projects have actually addressed the root causes of irregular migration. The current monitoring methodology lacks precision, which distorts the reported results.
Europe is currently facing a new wave of migrant arrivals from Africa. The Canary Islands have recorded more than 20,000 arrivals since the beginning of the year. However, the European Union has put in place mechanisms to deal with this crisis.
In conclusion, although the EUTF has made progress, it is essential to improve the targeting of projects, strengthen human rights monitoring and ensure better alignment with local priorities for future actions, including under the new Neighbourhood and Co-operation Instrument.
AC/sf/lb/GIK/APA