"This Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, set up at a record speed, shows once more the EU`s commitment to swiftly reply to the large challenges we are facing in the region," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said as quoted in the statement.
He added that the EU members must work with African partners "in addressing the root causes of irregular migration and promoting economic and equal opportunities, security and development."
The European Union is struggling to deal with a massive refugee crisis, with a growing number of undocumented migrants applying for asylum in EU member countries.
Over 800,000 migrants from conflict-torn countries of the Middle East and North Africa have arrived in the European Union since the beginning of 2015, according to the EU border agency Frontex.
More about:
