4. Conclusion The emphasis on stopping northward migration through various externalisation policies negatively affects free movement in the African continent, which is necessary for supporting livelihoods. It further contributes to human rights abuses and prolonged displacement within transit countries, where migrants, including refugees, continue to suffer deprivation. Fixating on externalisation removes focus from establishing legal migration pathways that could benefit Europe and the EU. This policy brief thus recommends the following: 1. Migration cooperation between African states, the EU and its member states should be foregrounded by AU migration and development frameworks to fully realise the benefits of migration for all parties. 2. To ensure accountability and transparency, migration cooperation with African states must be transparent and include the relevant RECs and relevant stakeholders like civil society. 3. Migration agreements between African states, the EU and its member states must be made public and enable a broad spectrum of consultation, scrutiny and accountability in their implementation to ensure democratic norms are respected in migration cooperation. 4. EU funding aimed at improving migration governance within African states should not only focus on border security but strategically target the different drivers of migration existing in the continent. 5. There is a need to fund civil society, non­governmental organisations and other protection actors to ensure that those facing human rights abuses get proper care and justice. The EU should also work with all other national, regional and international players to provide mutual legal assistance in addressing the human rights abuses of migrants. 6. Funding specifically targeting smuggling and countertrafficking programmes should extend their focus beyond building the capacity of law enforcement agencies and equip the justice system with mechanisms for addressing the vices contextually and comprehensively. 7. There is a need to open legal pathways for migration within the EU bloc, according to different legal and policy frameworks. This will be in line with the EU's aspiration of addressing labour shortages, while, at the same time, safeguarding the rights of those migrants in vulnerable situations. A no-win situation: Deconstructing the efficacy of 8 EU externalisation policies from an African perspective