The European Union and illegal migration in the southern Mediterranean: the trap of competing policy concepts

Abstract

Starting with the European Security Strategy (ESS) in 2003 the European Union reiterated that security, stability, and good governance in its near neighbourhood are key foreign policy priorities. In consideration of new kinds of security threats, such as illegal migration and various forms of terrorist acts in the southern Mediterranean, we have been witnessing an on-going externalisation of security cooperation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) with third countries in the region and beyond. In terms of illegal migration, FRONTEX acts as the main instrument in the management of Europe's border. This border control agency aims at curbing illegal migration in cooperation with third countries. However, the question remains whether it is a further step in deepening the chronic deficit of coherence in EU foreign policy. By externalising security cooperation the EU contradicts its policies in the fields of democracy promotion, rule of law, and human rights which are based on the EU's self-perception as a normative power. Thus, the following paper stresses three substantial contradictions of EU policy on illegal migration: first, EU policy contradicts its own efforts in democracy promotion, second, EU policy is in breach of European and international law, and third, the EU seems to prefer a short-term approach to a long-term effort that tackles the root causes of illegal migration in the southern Mediterranean.