EU Failing to Deter Illegal Crossings From Africa, Despite Spending Billions

The European Court of Auditors report into the EU’s Emergency Trust Fund for Africa has found thousands are still making the journey.

Migrants are rescued by the crew of the Geo Barents in the international waters off the coast of Libya, on April 24, 2023. Skye McKee/MSF Via AP

The European Union is failing to deter illegal immigrants from Africa and could do more to limit abuses against people trying to make the journey, the EU’s financial watchdog warned on Sept. 25.

The findings were presented in a European Court of Auditors report into the EU’s Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, a multi-billion-euro program hastily set up in 2015 after more than 1 million illegal immigrants arrived in Europe.