Focus on migration

The EU supports its member states in shaping a common asylum and immigration policy based on solidarity, efficient migration management, fair treatment of non-EU nationals, and efforts to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking.

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) plays an important role in ensuring that the EU funds allocated to these objectives are used efficiently, effectively and in alignment with the EU’s overarching policy goals. In this edition of ECA Insights, we highlight recent audit findings related to migration and provide a preview of two upcoming reports on this important topic.

Root causes of migration, integration, and fight against migrant smuggling

We recently conducted a series of audits to evaluate the effectiveness of EU migration-related funding. Below are some highlights from our reports:

• Special report 26/2024: Integration of third-country nationals in the EU. While the measures financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) were relevant for supporting migrant integration, their effectiveness was reduced by excessive administrative complexity. Furthermore, unreliable data provided by the EU member states undermined the ability to accurately assess the outcomes of these funding programmes.
• Special report 17/2024: The EU trust fund for Africa. Established in 2015 to address the root causes of migration, instability and internal displacements in Africa, the EUTF’s support was not sufficiently focused on agreed priorities. The auditors also raised shortcomings in procedures to address human rights violations and in ensuring sustainable results.
• Special Report 19/2021: Europol support to fight migrant smuggling. Migrant smuggling has posed a major humanitarian and security challenge for the EU in recent years. Our audit assessed whether Europol effectively supported the EU member states in dismantling criminal networks involved in organised migrant smuggling. The auditors found that Europol struggled to make full use of external information and lacked systematic measures to demonstrate the impact of its support.

Upcoming reports on refugee aid and budget flexibility

The ECA is currently working on several audit tasks related to funding for refugees and spending from the EU’s budget during crises. Here are two special reports to watch for in the coming months:

• Cohesions Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE). This audit will assess whether EU member states made an effective use of the available cohesion policy funds from the EU budget and CARE to address the specific needs of persons fleeing Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.
• Budget flexibility in times of crisis. The multiple crises faced by the EU in recent years – ranging from economic and migratory challenges to security and health issues – have underscored the need for flexibility within the EU budget to address emerging priorities effectively. The auditors will examine whether the EU budget’s flexibility tools are well-designed, appropriately mobilised for emerging needs, as well as justified and financially sustainable.

International Migrants Day

As we approach International Migrants Day on 18 December, it is a moment to reflect not only on the huge challenges associated with migration but also on the invaluable contributions of migrants worldwide. Migrants may play a key role in driving development in both their countries of origin and host countries, maintaining strong ties to their home countries while embracing new communities, where they contribute their knowledge, experience and skills.

Stay informed about ECA publications, audit reports and insights by following these monthly ECA Insights or visiting the ECA website.