EU launches $2 billion emergency fund for Africa to combat migration

VALLETTA (Reuters) - The European Union launched a fund for Africa on Thursday with an initial $2 billion (1.31 billion pound) to combat the poverty and conflict driving migration to Europe, but African leaders said more fundamental economic change was needed.

The trust fund, unveiled at a summit with African leaders in Malta, consists largely of 1.8 billion euros ($1.93 billion) put up by the European Commission, the EU executive, from the bloc's central budget. The Commission wants member states to match that, but few have pledged much so far.