THE DILEMMA BETWEEN RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND SECURITY IN THE EU BORDER MANAGEMENT POLICIES

Abstract

Irregular migration is one of salient problems in world politics. In particular, for border states, it even causes a serious security problem. In this regard, they have a tendency to link border management to a high security perspective. However, this attitude in some cases risk respecting fundamental human rights in particular for migrants. The aim of this article is to find the answer to the question of ‘to what extent do mechanisms in the field of “border management” guarantee at the same time the conduct of effective border controls and the respect of the fundamental rights of persons intercepted while crossing the border irregularly?’. It is argued that there is an inequality between border management and human rights and this can be seen in the European Union’s border management initiatives in the land border between Greece and Turkey. FRONTEX and its RABIT operation are critically examined.