In an attempt to contain migratory flows, EU leaders have opted for a costly, double-edged policy of outsourcing. They have chosen to hand out millions of euros to countries on Europe's borders, in the hope that these neighbors will themselves contain the flow of migrants, thus relieving themselves of this thankless task. However, these measures do not seem to be having the desired effect, as the networks are now content to take ever more perilous routes. Another unexpected consequence is that Europe is exposed to potential blackmail by the countries it finances.