Last week the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa adopted a €37 million package to increase the protection of migrants and boost effective migration management in North Africa. The package specifically targets Libya, Tunisia and Morocco. In Libya, this new EU funding will help protect and assist the most vulnerable migrants, such as the persons rescued at sea and disembarked in Libya, which will also include help for their host communities. In Tunisia, the program will address the root causes of migration by strengthening the creation of economic opportunities and, in Morocco, the program will support the fight against racism and xenophobia against migrants by strengthening their legal protection.
Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations commented that “the new EU assistance package meets both, the very concrete needs of migrants on the ground, and those of our partner countries. Migrants stranded in Libya will receive assistance and protection, including support to return decently to their home country if they wish to do so.” Mr. Hahn also stressed that “by supporting our partner countries in developing their capacities, the EU will also contribute to a safer, more orderly and efficient management of migration flows in our Neighborhood, which is very much in our interest.”
The new funding brings the EU support to North Africa via the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa to a total of €64.5 million in 2016 following €27.5 million that have already been adopted in June 2016. The ‘North of Africa Window’ of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa covers the following five countries: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. The underlying objective of the program is to strengthen stabilization in the region and areas particularly affected by migration and forced displacement flows.
