The European Court of Auditors (ECA) scrutinized 23 projects with contracts worth US$100 million (€89 million) out of a total US$838 million (€742 million) of EU money in eastern and southern neighboring countries. They included Algeria, Georgia, Moldova, Morocco, Ukraine and Libya, from where 90 percent of migrants set sail to reach Europe – it’s also the deadliest route.
EU external #migration spending in South. Mediterranean &East. Neighbourhood | audit report https://t.co/v2Hm8yKcmR pic.twitter.com/8ByW10jdhI
— EU Court of Auditors (@EUAuditorsECA) 17 March 2016
The EU spent US$1.6 billion (€1.4 billion) between 2007 and 2013. However, auditors could only work out how much was spent on one particular migration project but were unable to determine where that US$343 million (€304 million) was spent and in which country.
EU external #migration spending needs clearer objectives & priorities and better governance https://t.co/0ajIlhiuXQ pic.twitter.com/v6nWBAvyuE
— EU Court of Auditors (@EUAuditorsECA) 17 March 2016
Projects were found to be spread "too thinly" to achieve any concrete positive results in individual countries concerned, thus limiting the EU’s ability to make sure its intervention in neighboring countries "produced a genuine incentive effect in non-EU countries, or to develop effective cooperation with them on migration concerns".
However, it appears EU member states are still failing to learn from past mistakes, poor accounting and project management relating to irregular migration.
ECA report revealed "weaknesses" in financial management of projects with "limited success in returning migrants to their countries of origin". Auditors also pointed out problems in coordinating migration projects "between different EU bodies and between the European Commission and the Member States".
It also highlighted that respect for migrants’ human rights "remains theoretical and it only rarely translated into practice".
EU external #migration spending: weaknesses must be addressed to improve financial mbmt https://t.co/zqo5d4IvVP pic.twitter.com/F2E0mAqrpK
— EU Court of Auditors (@EUAuditorsECA) 17 March 2016
It appears the European Union missed many opportunities and wasted billions of euros, while trying to handle the massive inflow of refugees.
On Friday, EU leaders struck a deal with Turkey, a non-EU member, by giving it billions in aid money as long as Turkey steps up its efforts to stem the flow of refugees into Europe. In return, Turkey wants visa free access to the Schengen zone for its citizens and rapid accession to the European Union.
