A German humanitarian organisation, SOS Humanity, has criticised the European Union’s financial support for managing migration in Libya and other countries. It claims the funds contribute to serious and increasing human rights violations.
In a statement, the German NGO highlighted that from 2016 to 2027, the EU and its member states have allocated at least €327.7 million for border management in Libya and Tunisia. These funds, according to SOS Humanity, enable “illegal pushbacks, arbitrary detention, and denial of asylum rights” in Libya, undermining European values and international law.
The organisation accused the Libyan Coast Guard and Rescue Coordination Centre of failing to conduct sea rescues in line with international law, despite receiving EU funding. It claimed that between 2016 and 2024, over 145,000 migrants fleeing Libya were intercepted and returned, often facing detention and abuse.
The UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya has labelled many of these actions as crimes against humanity, further implicating the EU in systematic human rights abuses. SOS Humanity also criticised Tunisia for unsafe conditions for migrants and dangerous practices by its coast guard, including high-speed manoeuvres and the use of tear gas against migrants.
The organisation called on the EU to end outsourcing asylum procedures to third countries, including Libya, and to uphold international law.
