In a critical review of its response to the humanitarian crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Council has approved conclusions that both commend and cautiously critique the EU’s Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) initiative.

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) conducted an in-depth examination of how member states utilized cohesion policy funds to support displaced Ukrainians, revealing a nuanced picture of crisis management and financial flexibility.

Flexibility in Crisis Management

The CARE initiative was designed to provide unprecedented flexibility to EU member states, enabling them to rapidly redirect cohesion policy funds to address the immediate needs of Ukrainian refugees. Through three key regulations—CARE, CARE Plus, and FAST-CARE—the EU simplified bureaucratic processes and increased liquidity for support programs.

Mixed Achievements and Concerns

While the audit found that the initiative successfully helped member states respond quickly to the humanitarian emergency, it also raised significant concerns. The European Court of Auditors noted that the repeated use of cohesion policy to address crises could potentially undermine its primary objective of strengthening economic and social cohesion between European regions.

Monitoring and Effectiveness Challenges

A critical finding of the report highlights the insufficient monitoring of the support provided. The ECA emphasized that the current data collection methods do not fully capture the extent of assistance, making it difficult to comprehensively assess the initiative’s effectiveness.

Council’s Recommendations

In response, the Council has called on the European Commission to:

• Develop a more robust monitoring system for crisis-related measures
• Ensure data collection that allows for meaningful effectiveness assessment
• Create a monitoring approach that enables rapid response while avoiding excessive administrative burdens

Looking Forward

The CARE initiative has supported member states in providing emergency assistance to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. However, the audit reveals the complex challenges of implementing large-scale humanitarian support across diverse European regions.

The Council’s conclusions underscore the delicate balance between crisis responsiveness and long-term strategic planning in EU cohesion policy.

Council approves conclusions assessing cohesion policy’s action for Ukrainian refugees in Europe.

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