OVERVIEW
Background and Motivation
Migration governance in the EU has been marked by a series of crises since 2011. While legislative and political responses have remained relatively limited, the EU’s financial response has been remarkably dynamic. New instruments such as the EU Trust Fund for Africa were launched, existing financial tools were restructured, and for the first time, a dedicated budget heading for migration was introduced in the EU 2021–2027 budget.
Research Questions
This project investigates the evolution of EU financial instruments for migration and asylum since the supranationalisation of this policy area in the early 2000s. Key questions include:
- What have been the main changes?
- Do funds prioritize migration control or legal pathways and local development?
- Are they increasingly centralized at the EU level or managed by the EU Member States?
- What drives the design, programming and change of funds?
Analytical Approach
The project treats EU funds not merely as financial resources but as non-regulatory policy instruments. These instruments:
- Operationalize policy objectives
- Allocate funding to specific priorities
- Distribute implementation responsibilities
- Define indicators for measuring success
This approach allows the project to assess how financial tools reflect broader political understandings and priorities.
Theoretical Contribution
Beyond empirical analysis, the project aims to develop a refined theory of instrument change. It considers:
- Behavioral factors
- Bureaucratic dynamics
- Administrative processes
News
Details
| Duration | 01/02/2023 - 31/08/2026 |
|---|---|
| Funding | FWF |
| Program |
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| Department | |
| Principle investigator for the project (University for Continuing Education Krems) | Dr. Federica Zardo |
Resources (Open Access)
Academic Papers
Tsourdi, L.; Zardo, F. (2025). Migration Governance Through Funding: Theoretical, Normative, and Empirical Perspectives. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies
Zardo, F. (2025). Following AENEAS’ Route: Unpacking Two Decades ofMigration-Related Measures in EU Development Funds. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies
Carta, C.; Zardo, F.; Sguazzini, M. (2025) Beyond the Internal-External Policy Divide: How the EU Communicates on Migration. Geopolitics
Zardo, F.; Tservenis, D. R. (2024). Two decades of EU funds for migration and asylum : the MigFund dataset. EUI Working Paper, 32
Discussion Papers & Multi Media
Sayed, N.; Zardo, F.; Tsourdi, L. (2025). Funding the EU’s external migration policy: ‘Same old’ or potential for sustainable collaboration? Discussion Paper, European Policy Centre
Federica Zardo on "Two decades of EU Funds for migration and asylum: the MigFund dataset" – 14 May 2024, European University Institute (Lecture Recording)
Structured Primary Data
Zardo, F. (2025). MigFund Dataset. Zenodo
