The European Union (EU) is being criticized for its failure to deter illegal immigrants from Africa and for not doing enough to prevent abuses against those attempting the journey, according to a report by the EU’s financial watchdog on September 25.
The report, conducted by the European Court of Auditors, focused on the EU’s Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. This program was established in 2015 after over one million illegal immigrants arrived in Europe, overwhelming services in Italy and Greece and prompting calls for action.
The Emergency Trust Fund was designed to address the root causes of migration in Africa, such as poverty, conflict, and unemployment. Initially funded with 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion), it has since grown to approximately 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion).
However, the auditors found that despite lessons learned from previous efforts, the European Commission—the body responsible for managing the fund—has been unable to identify and report on effective approaches to reducing irregular migration. The auditors also highlighted weaknesses in addressing human rights risks and inaccuracies in reporting results.
Furthermore, there were concerns about allegations of human rights violations within Africa that were not properly recorded or followed up by the commission. While auditors were aware of ten officers reporting potential abuses across different parts of Africa, only one allegation was officially recorded by the commission.
The report also examined EU assistance provided to Libya’s migration department and coast guard—a significant departure point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea. A U.N.-appointed investigator claimed that this assistance had facilitated crimes against humanity; however, this allegation was rejected by the commission.
Flaws were identified regarding funds allocated for maritime surveillance equipment aimed at reducing deaths at sea off Libya’s coast. There were concerns that these resources could be used by unintended actors or that Libyan staff trained by Europeans may not adhere to humanitarian principles.
In December 2023, auditors visited a maritime rescue coordination center on Libya’s coast which Italy had been tasked with helping establish since 2017. However, despite significant investments of money and equipment over seven years later it remains non-operational.
While acknowledging areas needing improvement highlighted in the report—including mitigating risks related to human rights—the commission emphasized its efforts thus far have resulted in voluntarily repatriating 73,215 illegal immigrants as of last year.
