Originally allocated 1.8 billion euros, the fund's budget has ballooned to about 5 billion euros, yet it continues to struggle with targeting and effectiveness.

The European Court of Auditors has released a critical report on the EU's Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, established in 2015 in response to the influx of over one million migrants, primarily from conflict zones like Syria.

Despite the EU's investment of approximately 5 billion euros aimed at curbing unauthorized migration from Africa, the report indicates that illegal immigration remains high.

The fund has faced significant criticism for its ineffective distribution of resources, described as a 'scattergun approach' that fails to adequately address pressing human rights concerns.

Over 100 research reports were financed to guide the fund's strategies, but most were published too late to influence the allocation of funds.

This recent criticism marks the second instance where the court has questioned the fund's effectiveness, echoing concerns raised in a 2018 report regarding its lack of targeted interventions.

As of last year, the fund has facilitated the voluntary return of over 73,000 migrants and supported the creation of more than 11,000 jobs in African nations, primarily in Guinea and Senegal.

The report also highlighted serious mismanagement of EU funds intended for maritime surveillance, with around 30,000 people having died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014.

Concerns were raised about the potential misuse of EU-funded equipment by unintended actors in Libya, where trained staff may not adhere to humanitarian principles.

A U.N. investigator has accused EU support for Libya's migration department of contributing to serious human rights violations, a claim that the European Commission denies.

Bettina Jakobsen from the European Court of Auditors acknowledged the fund's potential but stressed the need for a more strategic focus to effectively address the root causes of migration.

The fund was established by the European Commission to tackle the root causes of irregular migration and displacement in Africa, focusing on crisis situations in key regions.