On the 13th of March 2008 the EU-Council in Brussels decided the formation of a Mediterranean Union, which shall deepen the relations to the south and east Mediterranean states. This Union shall intensify the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership launched in 1995 in Barcelona. The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership includes political and security dialogues, the gradual establishment of a free trade area and cultural relations under the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) of the EU. The bilateral and multilateral agreements are mentioning as well topics such as migration and asylum. These subjects are today more than ever important for EU member states. The EU is for many migrants the possibility to escape the bad living conditions in their home countries, which are to a huge degree countries of the south and east Mediterranean. Due to this problem, EU member states decided to manage legal and illegal immigration as well as the flow of refugees on the multilateral level of the EU.
Since the Treaty of Amsterdam this area is located in the first pillar of the EU and not longer in the intergovernmental third pillar. As it can be seen in the bilateral and multilateral agreements of the EU with non-EU members there is definitively an EU foreign policy dimension of migration and asylum. Since migration is evidentially a timeless topic and the creation of a Mediterranean Union was decided currently, this paper will analyze the external dimension of illegal immigration in the relations with the Mediterranean partner countries. Which approach is the EU following regarding illegal immigration in general? How far are the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership states included in the management of illegal immigration? Which strategies include the agreements with these countries? Where might be problems of the EU-management of illegal immigration in the cooperation with the countries of the Mediterranean? These shall be the key-questions the paper will answer.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Illegal Immigration Policy in the EU – connecting the internal and the external
2.1 Cooperation with third countries
2.2 Strengthening the external borders
2.3 The fight against human trafficking
2.4 Tackling illegal employment
2.5 Return Policy
2.6 Improved information exchange
3. The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: two parties one thread?
4. Problems and criticism of the EU policy towards illegal migration
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper analyzes the external dimension of the European Union's policy on illegal immigration, specifically focusing on the relationship and cooperation strategies with Mediterranean partner countries. It examines how the EU manages migratory flows through bilateral and multilateral frameworks and explores the tension between security-oriented restrictive measures and the objective of addressing root causes such as poverty.
- Evolution of EU migration management from internal to external policy dimensions.
- Strategic cooperation instruments with third countries, including readmission agreements.
- The role of agencies like FRONTEX in border control and its humanitarian implications.
- Critical analysis of the effectiveness and ethics of the current EU policy framework.
- The link between migration management, security threats, and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Illegal Immigration Policy in the EU – connecting the internal and the external
With the words of Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy: “Europe needs migration.” According to her speech on the Conference on Reinforcing the Area of Freedom, Security, Prosperity and Justice of the EU and its Neighbouring Countries, the approach of the EU towards migration shall not be anylonger to build a “fortress Europe” that keeps migrants out. After Ferrero-Waldner the EU commission adopted a more comprehensive migration management, which links migration with the policy field of development, promotes migration in case of European demographic, social and economic problems, promotes the protection of migrants for exploitation and exclusion as well as it promotes the protection of asylum seekers and the respect of migrants’ rights. This new approach of migration management includes as well a very old issue regarding migration – the fight against illegal immigration of third country nationals, which is a cornerstone of the EU common migration policy. According to the commission, illegal immigrants are persons “who enter the territory of a Member State illegally” with false documents or with help of criminals. Another group of illegal immigrants are those, who entered EU territory legally but stayed longer than allowed or changed reasons of stay as well as unsuccessful asylum seekers.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the formation of the Mediterranean Union and the growing importance of managing migration flows at the EU level, setting the key research questions regarding the external dimension of illegal immigration.
2. Illegal Immigration Policy in the EU – connecting the internal and the external: This section details the EU's move toward a comprehensive migration management approach, defining illegal immigration and outlining the political framework governing border control and policy development.
2.1 Cooperation with third countries: This chapter examines the financial and technical assistance provided by the EU to transit and origin countries to help them develop their own migration management capacities.
2.2 Strengthening the external borders: This part focuses on the intensification of border controls, the establishment of the FRONTEX agency, and the use of technical innovations and databases to secure the EU's exterior.
2.3 The fight against human trafficking: This chapter describes how the EU integrates internal and external policy fields to address human trafficking through prevention, investigation, and international cooperation.
2.4 Tackling illegal employment: This section identifies illegal employment as a primary root cause of illegal immigration and outlines the Commission's proposed sanctions and preventive measures for employers.
2.5 Return Policy: This chapter explains the significance of readmission agreements with non-EU countries as a key instrument in the EU’s return strategy for illegal migrants.
2.6 Improved information exchange: This section discusses the importance of data sharing between EU member states via platforms like ICONet to facilitate better analysis of migration flows.
3. The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: two parties one thread?: This chapter analyzes the specific collaboration framework between EU member states and Mediterranean partners, emphasizing the role of Association Agreements and financial programs like AENEAS.
4. Problems and criticism of the EU policy towards illegal migration: This chapter provides a critical perspective on the restrictive nature of EU policies, highlighting concerns from organizations regarding human rights, international law, and the lack of focus on poverty reduction.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the dual approach of the EU—balancing restrictive security measures with development-oriented policies—and questions the long-term effectiveness of the current partnership strategy.
Keywords
Illegal immigration, EU policy, Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, border control, FRONTEX, human trafficking, readmission agreements, migration management, third countries, human rights, externalisation, development policy, asylum, poverty reduction, security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this publication?
The publication examines the external dimension of the European Union's policy regarding illegal immigration and how this is integrated into the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The work covers border security, cooperation with transit and origin countries, the fight against human trafficking, employment policies, and the political implications of externalizing migration management.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The primary goal is to analyze the EU's approach to illegal immigration in its external relations, determine how Mediterranean partners are involved, and identify the problems associated with these cooperation strategies.
Which methodology is employed in this paper?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis of official EU communications, policy documents, and existing academic literature to assess the effectiveness and ethical implications of current migration policies.
What does the main body of the text discuss?
It covers the historical development of EU migration policy, technical measures for border control, the role of specific agencies like FRONTEX, and the critical responses from international observers.
What are the characterizing keywords of the work?
Key terms include illegal immigration, externalisation of EU policy, FRONTEX, readmission agreements, and human rights.
How does the author interpret the term "externalisation"?
The author uses this term to describe the phenomenon where the EU transfers the responsibility of managing illegal and unwanted immigrants to third-party states and external agencies.
Why are readmission agreements considered controversial?
These agreements are criticized because they may force countries with poor human rights records to accept returned migrants, potentially violating international human rights standards.
What conflict of interest exists between the EU and its partners?
While the EU aims to prevent illegal immigration to secure its borders, transit countries often benefit from migration through remittances and may lack the incentive to fully suppress it.
Is the EU's current policy considered balanced?
The paper argues that the policy is currently skewed toward restrictive security measures rather than addressing the fundamental root causes of migration, such as poverty.
- Citar trabajo
- Lena Schnaible (Autor), 2008, The External Dimension of Illegal Immigration, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/137898
