Analysing change in EU funding for migration and asylum

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