EU support to partner countries on migration and forced displacement

Migration and forced displacement are global phenomena linked to demographics, stability, economic prospects, conflict, climate change, and the aspirations of young people, but also to activities of criminal international networks of smugglers and traffickers. In line with the Pact for Migration and Asylum, managing migration and mobility within our Common Mediterranean Space is a joint responsibility of the EU, its Member States, and MENA partner countries, also embedded in the Pact for the Mediterranean.

The EU policy framework

The external dimension of EU migration policies as per the guidelines of the European Council, focuses on a comprehensive approach to migration and asylum. It includes the protection of vulnerable migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and legal migration and labour mobility. The aim is to tackle the root- causes of irregular migration by combating smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings, and by strengthening border management capacities of partner countries. This comes in addition to the returns of migrants irregularly staying in the EU to their countries of origin, and to the support of voluntary returns and sustainable reintegration of returnees in their countries of origin.

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into force in June 2026 sets up the first common EU system to manage migration, including through comprehensive and tailor-made partnerships with countries of origin and transit. The EU addresses the challenges and harnesses the opportunities from international migration. At the same time, we promote safe and legal alternatives to irregular migration.

The Pact for the Mediterranean embeds migration within a broader framework for cooperation with Southern Mediterranean partners, from investing in education and skills development, to addressing challenges related to security, preparedness, and migration management within the Common Mediterranean Space.

In the Southern Mediterranean, the EU has been strengthening its bilateral partnerships with key countries of origin and transit including in the area of migration, via Strategic and Comprehensive Partnerships (yet concluded with Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan), and Talent Partnerships establishing mutually beneficial labour mobility opportunities with the EU. Talent Partnerships have been concluded with Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt.

Making the policy work

As part of the overall EU approach, DG MENA operates a “whole-of-route approach” with the partner countries along the main migratory routes. Thanks to the EU funding, dedicated EU Agencies, such as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, the EU Asylum Agency EUAA, and Europol, as well as the EU Member States’ agencies, international organisations and civil society support the partner countries in better managing migration and mobility along the migratory routes. This cooperation tackles forced displacement, ensures the protection of vulnerable migrants, asylum seekers, internally displaced people (IDPs), and refugees. EU support also covers border management, and contributing to tackling the root causes of forced displacement and irregular migration.

EU funds the support to the partner countries to manage migration and forced displacement through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation – Global Europe Instrument (NDICI-GE) 2021-2027.

This support is complemented by the EU’s comprehensive engagement with partner countries in the region, in support of their stability, prosperity, and security.

Support in North Africa

In North Africa NDICI-GE funding supports, among others, migration management, return and reintegration, combatting smuggling and trafficking, protection of migrants and asylum seekers and promotion of legal pathways.

These priorities guide cooperation with partner countries, with 2021-2024 funding amounting approximately:

Libya: €217 million
Tunisia: €218 million;
Morocco: €222 million;
Egypt: €212 million;
Algeria: only benefitting from regional programmes

In December 2025, a new regional envelope for migration in North Africa for the period 2025–2027 was adopted and amounts to €675 million. In terms of thematic breakdown, it provides: €140 million on protection, €140 million on migration governance and management, including security, border Management and anti-smuggling, €176 million on return and reintegration, €47 million on legal migration and mobility, €12 million for support measures and €160 million for Sector Budget Support Programme for the National Strategy on Immigration and Asylum of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The on-going NDICI-GE programmes build on successful actions under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) and the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI).

EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF)

The EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) was established in November 2015 by the European Commission, 25 EU Member States, as well as Norway and Switzerland. The aim was to deliver an integrated and coordinated response to the causes of instability, irregular migration, and forced displacement in Africa. In North Africa, it has been a key instrument in addressing migration challenges.

Over the course of its mandate (from 2016 to 2021, with projects ongoing until 2025), the EU has activated close to €1 billion through the North Africa window of the EUTF focusing on the following priorities:

protection of vulnerable migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and host communities for community stabilisation;
support to integrated border management and fight against smuggling and trafficking in human beings;
support to labour migration;
support to improved migration governance and assisted voluntary return and sustainable reintegration.

Since the start of the EUTF, 2.7 million basic and social services have been delivered in the North of Africa region. 5.5 million people, including in host communities, were given improved access to basic social services thanks to the construction or renovation of 1,534 social infrastructures and to the training of over 23,000 staff. In terms of economic and employment opportunities, 23,827 people benefitted from professional trainings, 5,399 people developed income-generating activities, and 19,906 jobs were created.

More results can be found in the yearly EUTF for Africa reports.

The final evaluation of the EUTF for Africa is ongoing.

Support in the Middle East

Support to migration management and addressing forced displacement in the Middle East is currently funded through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe (2021–2027). It builds on the achievements of the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad Fund) and the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI).

Between 2021 and 2025, over €1.6 billion have been allocated to addressing Syrian displacement and mitigating its impact on host communities across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. This support has focused on access to basic services (education, health, water and sanitation), protection and resilience of Syrian refugees and IDPs, and vulnerable host communities. It also included durable solutions to the protracted displacement of Syrians, including safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable returns to Syria.

The EU is also one of the largest providers of assistance to Palestine refugees. The EU’s funding ensures that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East’s (UNRWA) be able to provide health, education and social services to Palestinian refugees. This includes salaries for teachers, doctors, and social workers active in refugee camps.

Since 2012, the EU has promoted access to rights, essential services, and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable Afghan populations and their host communities in Iran in the framework of the Solution Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR). This strategy is dedicated to facilitating durable solutions for Afghan refugees including their host communities. Additionally, Afghan refugees and their host communities in Iran benefit from the Regional Team Europe Initiative on the Afghan displacement crisis. This initiative, led by the EU, involves 12 EU Member States along with relevant Commission Services, and focuses on protection, livelihoods, basic services, and migration management.

EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syria Crisis

Launched in 2014, the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syria Crisis (the ‘Madad’ Fund) was a major EU instrument. It has catered for the critical needs of more than 5 million Syrian refugees and the host communities in the neighbourhood (mainly Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Türkiye), and of 7.2 million IDPs. The EUTF Syria ended its implementation in June 2025.

With contributions from the EU, Member States, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom exceeding €2.38 billion, the EUTF Syria allowed to run 131 crucial projects in seven priority sectors: basic and higher education, livelihoods, health, water and sanitation (WASH), protection, and social cohesion. The fund’s achievements are:

Over 12 million people in need have been granted access to crucial basic services.
Over 160,000 beneficiaries have received training to strengthen local capacities across various sectors.
Over 16,000 public facilities in the target countries have been upgraded, constructed, or reconstructed.

A comprehensive overview of funds mobilised over the years and projects to support people in Syria and the surrounding region can be found in the 2025 Results and Progress Report. After the end of Madad, the EU has continued to support forcibly displaced Syrians and their host communities through NDICI-Global Europe framework (2021-2027).

Support in the Gulf

In addition to its Southern Mediterranean engagement, the EU is developing a closer, forward-looking partnership with the Gulf countries (KSA, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain). They are key destinations for labour migration, hosting over 23 million migrant workers (ILO 2023) primarily from South and Southeast Asia.

The 2023 EU-GCC cooperation arrangements strengthen collaboration on labour migration governance, including mutual recognition of qualifications and joint efforts to combat exploitative recruitment practices (e.g. ‘contract substitution’). Under this framework, the EU and GCC states are exploring sectoral mobility schemes for IT, renewable energy, and healthcare professionals.

The EU’s engagement in the Gulf focuses on:

Promoting fair labour migration: Through technical cooperation with GCC governments, the EU supports reforms to kafala (sponsorship) systems, wage protection, and access to justice for migrant workers (e.g. €15 million under NDICI for 2021–2027). Partnerships with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Gulf-based civil society aim to align labour laws with international standards.
Combating trafficking in humans: The Gulf is a high-risk region for forced labour and human trafficking, particularly in domestic work and construction. EU-funded programmes (e.g. together with Europol and Interpol) enhance cross-border law enforcement cooperation to dismantle trafficking networks and support victim protection.
Legal migration: Exploring circular migration schemes and skills partnerships (e.g. in healthcare and green energy) to address labour shortages in the EU and GCC states. The EU-GCC Labour Mobility Dialogue, launched in 2022, facilitates exchanges on qualifications recognition and ethical recruitment.

Support in Yemen

The EU has allocated €1.2 billion in humanitarian and development aid since 2015. The aim is to tackle Yemen’s worst humanitarian crisis, where 4.5 million people are displaced.

While migration support is secondary to life-saving aid, NDICI funds target protection for migrants stranded in Yemen (e.g. Ethiopian/Somali migrants on their way to Gulf states) and reintegration support for Yemeni returnees from Saudi Arabia.