European Migration Policy Research Articles

Canarios en una mina: la crisis migratoria de los cayucos y la europeización de la política migratoria

Understanding how the Spanish state and the Canary Islands dealt with the cayuco crisis and its aftermath is instructional for the current migrant crisis facing Europe. Employing the theoretical lenses of liberal intergovernmentalism and neo-institutionalism, this article studies how the EU has shaped the governance of migration policy using both hard and soft governance. Hard governance refers to coercive legally imposed mechanisms, whereas soft governance may be cooperation or voluntary adoption of EU models. During the cayuco crisis, as thousands of African migrants arrived to the Canary Islands, the Spanish government sought assistance from the EU and its member states via Frontex, and adopted the EU’s externalization of migration policy with Plan Africa, an aid package to stop immigration at its source. Both Frontex and Plan Africa were EU policy prescriptions, that exhibit EU soft governance and the Europeanization of migration policy. As a result, Spain achieved its goal of stopping the flow of irregular migrants, yet the state remained the main actor in migration policy, as liberal intergovernmentalists assert. However, the EU-inspired policies that Spain ultimately adopted during the cayuco crisis have been emulated in the current migrant crisis, inspiring a model for present and future migration policies in Europe.

Governmental Response to Migration and the Nexus with Citizens’ Attitudes: An Empirical Analysis of the Origin of European Migration Policies

Governmental Response to Migration and the Nexus with Citizens’ Attitudes: An Empirical Analysis of the Origin of European Migration Policies

Опыт европейской миграционной политики и пути его применения в России

Опыт европейской миграционной политики и пути его применения в России

Crisis de refugio olvidadas. Una mirada desde República Centroafricana

El presente texto es la comunicación de Teodora Corral en el curso de verano ¿Crisis de refugiados o crisis de la política migratoria europea?, organizado en junio de 2017 por la Cátedra Refugiados y Migrantes Forzosos del Instituto Universitario de Estudios sobre Migraciones (IUEM) de la Universidad Pontificia Comillas, el Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes (SJM) y la Fundación Entreculturas, en la Universidad Menéndez Pelayo. Se trata de un texto de relevancia para este número de Comillas Journal of International Relations en tanto que ofrece una reflexión crítica, fundamentada en un conocimiento en primera persona, del conflicto que atraviesa la República Centroafricana desde 2013 y sobre su dimensión histórica e internacional.

Editorial Introduction: Migration in the Western Balkans – Trends and Challenges

ABSTRACTThis introductory paper sets the scene for the special issue on migration in the Western Balkan region. First, we briefly outline the background to the research networking initiative in the Western Balkans—‘WB-MIGNET’—which resulted in producing the set of papers presented here. Then we describe the context in which the analysis of migration, return and development in the Western Balkans takes place, highlighting the role of diasporas and return migration. The region exemplifies a wide range and interrelation of migratory forms, including temporary and permanent labour migration, forced migration of refugees, temporary displacement, high-skilled migration and transit migration. Quite apart from the scale and diversity of migratory phenomena in this region, the special relevance of the Western Balkans rests on mass emigration, predominantly of educated young people, and their possible return, including to post-conflict areas, and role in the development of their home countries. Such processes within the Western Balkans also offer useful lessons for designing future migration policies in Europe and worldwide. The final section of this introductory paper summarizes the papers that follow and highlights their originality and key findings.

Jewish Refugees in Cyprus and British Imperial Sovereignty in the Eastern Mediterranean, 1933–1949

ABSTRACTThis paper focuses on the use of the British Colony of Cyprus as a clearing ground for Jewish refugees on route to Palestine before, during, and after the Second World War. While acknowledging the historiographical consensus underscoring Cyprus’ renewed strategic importance in the context of British post-Second World War imperial retreat in the East, the article argues that Jewish transmigration revealed new potential uses for the island which in turn contributed to confirm British sovereignty in that possession. Drawing on British and Cypriot sources, the article further shows the transformative impact of Jewish transmigration for Cyprus politics as it induced British authorities, who had established an authoritarian regime in the island in the 1930s, to invoke Cypriot reactions in order to stem the flow of refugees to the island. This paved the way for future policies meant to redefine the relations between rulers and ruled. As the management of refugees coming to Cyprus during the period under scrutiny relied on ever more refined instruments of classification, the paper finally highlights the contribution of Empire to the crafting of official categories to designate people on the move—‘refugees’, ‘illegal immigrants’—which still inform European migration policies.

Politiques européennes de migration

Cet article propose un large débat sur les politiques européennes en matière de migration. Par le biais d’un dialogue, les deux auteurs cherchent à confronter leurs vues respectives – celle de l’expert et celle du théoricien politique – sur les principaux enjeux posés par la gestion du phénomène migratoire en Europe. Au-delà des différences stratégiques et analytiques des deux auteurs, il ressort de cet échange une insatisfaction commune vis-à-vis de nombreuses dimensions de la politique migratoire actuelle de l’UE. Ses fondements et ses présupposés, ses concepts, ses finalités et ses impacts sont déconstruits au cours de cet entretien.

What’s in a name? ‘Refugees’, ‘migrants’ and the politics of labelling

Through a critical examination of European immigration policy and using the case of Afghan asylum seekers in the European continent, this article argues that the politics of labelling and the criminalisation and securitisation of migration undermine the protection framework for the globally displaced. However, the issue goes deeper than state politicking to circumvent responsibilities under international law. The construction of migrants as victims at best, and as cultural and security threats at worst, particularly in the case of Muslim refugees, not only assists in their dehumanisation, it also legitimises actions taken against them through the perpetuation of a particular discourse on the European Self and the non-European Other. At one level, such a dynamic underscores the long-standing struggle of Europe to articulate its identity within the economic, demographic and cultural anxieties produced by the dynamics of globalisation. At another, these existing constructions, which hierarchise ‘worthiness’, are limited in their reflection of the complex realities that force people to seek refuge. Simultaneously, the labels, and the discourse of which they are part, make it possible for Europe to deny asylum claims and expedite deportations while being globally accepted as a human rights champion. This process also makes it possible for Europe to categorise turbulent contexts such as Afghanistan as a ‘safe country’, even at a time when the global refugee protection regime demands creative expansion. Ultimately, the politics of European migration policy illustrates the evolution of European Orientalist discourse – utilised in the past to legitimise colonisation and domination, now used to legitimise incarceration and deportation.

Race in the Balkans: The Case of Erased Residents of Slovenia

In this essay we demonstrate that the concepts of race and racism comprise an applicable theoretical framework for understanding the Erasure – when the authorities of newly independent Slovenia erased 25,671 people from the register of permanent residence in 1992 – and particularly for placing it in the wider context of Europeanization and the transition from socialism to a liberal market economy. Taking into account legal, social, political, and economic aspects, we find parallels to other contexts, enabling us to conclude that the Erasure was more than a legal mistake in a nation-state formation. Rather, we see it as a process connected to the Europeanization of Slovenia, since it was partly a result of European migration policies implemented in its territory. Furthermore, by addressing the Erasure through a discourse on race, and in specifically framing it as a process of internal division and systematic exclusion through state institutions, we recognize these exclusions also as a means of extracting wealth, property, and accumulated labour, an integral part of the liberalization of the former communist states.

Migration policies and digital technologies in Europe: a comparison between Italy and Spain

ABSTRACTThis paper analyses the connection between European migration policies and digital technologies, with a look at the significant changes that have affected the formation and meaning of borders on the continent. Particular attention is paid to the primary digital surveillance systems (SIS II, VIS, EURODAC) in Italy and Spain, importantly ‘Europe’s gatekeepers’ over the last decade. The results of the research contradict the thesis that there is persistence non-compliance with surveillance systems in the Southern European member states, and also highlight important areas of divergence between the two countries’ migration policy pathways.

Family Migration as a Class Matter

AbstractTraditionally, family migration was conceptualized as a separate form of migration from labour migration. Increasingly socio‐economic criteria (labour market participation, language competence, financial resources, independence from welfare), have been applied to family migration policies in Europe, and are harder to fulfil by those with a weaker labour market position. Hence class now plays an increasingly significant role in stratifying the right to family migration. The article examines the imposition of minimum income requirements in three countries – the Netherlands, Norway and the UK – and the significance of class in its economic and cultural dimensions in meeting the requirement. For those without sufficient economic capital to meet the requirement, cultural capital may facilitate the development of coping strategies to overcome or reduce the duration of family separation. Class is not the only stratifying element: gender, age and ethnicity interact with and reinforce the effects of class.

Bifurcation of people, bifurcation of law: externalization of migration policy before the EU Court of Justice

In the past 25 years, European migration policy has been externalized, resulting in a bifurcation of human movement. This has become clearly visible in the context of Syrian refugees. In two judgments, the EU Court of Justice was confronted with cases challenging the exclusion of Syrian refugees from Europe. This article seeks to analyse these judgments in the context of the broader developments in European migration law and policy. The core analysis developed here is that the bifurcation of human movement is reflected in a bifurcation of law. Excluded people are to be excluded not merely from European territory, but also from European law.

The end and the beginning: the EU, Africa and the need for a new migration regime

In the years to come, Europe will face many difficult challenges related to migration. To cope with the increased flows emanating from the African continent, present policies will have to be adapted and new ones created. The EU must pursue a course that protects the integrity of free movement, secures the external borders and enables it to work with stakeholders, both in Africa and elsewhere, to avoid an unchecked influx of migrants. The article reviews important elements of the debate that has been taking place in the EU in recent years and shows that a new basis for the European Migration and Asylum Policy is needed to ensure that it has a more realistic chance of success. It argues that there is a need for a review of EU policies on migration and asylum, and for the development of more useful tools to disentangle the complex web of interests which today is ever present in the debate on the European Migration and Asylum Policy.

Syrian Refugee Crisis and European Migration Policies: Rise in Xenophobic Rhetoric in Europe

Syrian immigration crisis has been ignored by advanced European countries and the heaviest burden is left to developing border countries. However this ignorance has resulted in more mass influx of immigrants illegally to the borders of European Union with a target of advanced Northern countries. To evaluate the European ignorance to this humanitarian crisis, first Turkey is evaluated as a transition point for all Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants dreaming to live in Europe. By a shocking extend of sea arrivals, Europe have noticed the humanitarian crisis and made a deal with main transition point for immigrants, Turkey. However this deal is a symbol of violation human rights and vaporisation of all European values. So refugee crisis and policy changes in Europe are covered briefly. In conclusion, this position of European countries is argued as related with accelerating social support to xenophobic and Islamophobic rhetoric in politics as to elective results in advanced EU countries.

Refugees, as a challenge to the modern migration policy of the European Union

The article presents migration policy of the European Union and its evolution under the influence of modern challenges, including the problem of Refugee.In the context of recent events, the problem with the number of refugees in the world is becoming more and more urgent. Due to the instability and the state of war, the policy of regulation and management of migration flows has deteriorated and complicated in general. This explains why the issue of solving the problem of refugees and illegal migrants is on the agenda in Europe today. To stop the huge flow of refugees can be possible only by applying the radical changes of the situation in the problem countries, such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc, by not only fighting against migration, but also implementing appropriate administration.
 The increase in the number of terrorist attacks, the social tension among the citizens of the recipient countries, the aggressive refugees’ attacks on peaceful citizens, the criminal action against the police and other executive branches, the mass riots in the developed, democratic countries lead to some correction of the European migration policy. The increased number of refugees in the last 5 years forces the European community not only to help and support the victims, but also to introduce stricter measures to protect their own borders, citizens and political stability.
 Keywords: The refugees, the migration policy, the European Union, the donor countries, the recipient countries

Fleeing War or Threatening Peace? A Research Note on the Changing Perceptions about Migrants to Germany

The so-called ‘refugee crisis’ of 2015-2016 poses a substantial challenge to European migration policies and ignited a new debate on migration across Europe. Germany, in particular, has seen a massive influx of migrants, yet a culture of welcome prevailed and the support for anti-migration groups remains lower than in neighboring countries. The paper explores the changing framingof refuge and (im)migrationin Germanyduring the refugee crisis. While in the past the image of a refugee deserving asylum was clearly defined on political grounds, the increasing number of economic migrants challenges the perception of refuge among Germans. The framing of migrants became more nuanced, shifting from a collective to an individual notion. Following negative incidents, frames for specific groups shifted further, prompting politicians to introduce some policy changes that tightened access. Using a framework of deservingness, the paper looks at the framing ofdifferent migrant groups and subsequent changes of perceptions of deservingness among citizens. Three key criteria of deservingness are studied, the personal responsibility for one’s situation, the level of need, and the identity of recipients.Such analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of changes in public opinion, supplementing quantitative work.

RE-EVALUATION AND THE NEW APPROACHES FOR MIGRATION POLICY ANALYSIS IN EUROPE

Migration policy is one of the most significant fields for analysis of contemporary population movements and their societal implications. In this paper some of the most important theoretical approaches to migration policy are shown, as well as their benefits and shortcomings, presented in comparative perspective. The special attention is given to the problem of contemporary demographic tendencies in Europe, with special emphasis on many causes of migration movements. At the end of the paper, some of the possible new directions in forming migration policy in Europe are presented, as well as the strategical solutions for (violent) migration problem.

De la ‘crise’ migratoire européenne au pacte mondial sur les migrations : exemple d’un mouvement sans droit ?

Far from being the consequence of exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances, the European migration ‘ crisis’ was the result of a refusal to acknowledge contemporary realities and of a lack of solidarity between member States of the European Union. In the short term, courts are generally holding the line by protecting the rights of migrants. The European Court of Justice remains quite strong in its defence of migrants’ rights regarding their treatment inside the territory of the Union. However, it is mostly absent regarding their treatment outside the territory of the Union, even when such treatment is prompted by the external dimension of European migration policies. Over the long term, however, States will need to collectively acknowledge the permanence through time of migration phenomena and develop selection and integration policies accordingly. At multilateral level, the Global Compact on Migration could serve as a road map to develop diversified mechanisms for governing migration while respecting the human rights of migrants. This will necessitate that such soft law evolves towards recognising the international obligations of States towards migrants, that courts protect the rights of all in all circumstances and that migrants themselves be empowered to fight for their rights.

Uni�n Europea y "crisis" de refugiados. La libre movilidad como derecho humano

In this article, the author provides an analysis of the crisis of refugees and immigrants in the European Union, pointing out to European migration policy as an exclusionary area of freedom, security and justice, and defending the right to human mobility as first right.

Book Review: The Political Economy of Border Drawing: Arranging Legality in European Labor Migration Policies

Book Review: The Political Economy of Border Drawing: Arranging Legality in European Labor Migration Policies