Human Insecurity and Indignity in the European Union Refugees and Migrants Crossing the Croatian-Bosnian Border

Rosina Tavares

Master's thesis

Abstract:

EU values are the foundation of the European Union. However, in terms of the recent mixed migration flows EU values such as solidarity and respect for human dignity have not been upheld across the union. After an initial humanitarian response to the large influx of refugees and migrants, the attitude of EU countries shifted. The securitisation of migration is seen as the prominent reason for this shift. Migration became a security issue within the EU and especially the external border countries are pressured to have strong and effective border control. Croatia is an example of this, where allegedly the inhumane and degrading treatment of refugees and migrants has become a tool of deterrence at the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this thesis, it will be investigated how the values solidarity and respect for human dignity can be upheld in the implementation of EU migration policy at the Croatian-Bosnian border. This is of crucial importance to the EU as its functionality depends on the shared belief in values. An in-depth understanding of the situation at the Croatian-Bosnian border is needed in order to determine how the values can be upheld. The research explores; the problems associated with EU migration policy, the relation between the EU and the two Balkan countries, the discrepancy between EU values in policy and in practice, and the securitisation of migration. The central objective of this thesis is to determine whether EU values have been upheld as well as identifying the responsibility and accountability of actors at the Croatian-Bosnian border through the method of qualitative content analysis. More broadly, the findings will result in country-specific recommendations.

Abstract:

EU values are the foundation of the European Union. However, in terms of the recent mixed migration flows EU values such as solidarity and respect for human dignity have not been upheld across the union. After an initial humanitarian response to the large influx of refugees and migrants, the attitude of EU countries shifted. The securitisation of migration is seen as the prominent reason for this shift. Migration became a security issue within the EU and especially the external border countries are pressured to have strong and effective border control. Croatia is an example of this, where allegedly the inhumane and degrading treatment of refugees and migrants has become a tool of deterrence at the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this thesis, it will be investigated how the values solidarity and respect for human dignity can be upheld in the implementation of EU migration policy at the Croatian-Bosnian border. This is of crucial importance to the EU as its functionality depends on the shared belief in values. An in-depth understanding of the situation at the Croatian-Bosnian border is needed in order to determine how the values can be upheld. The research explores; the problems associated with EU migration policy, the relation between the EU and the two Balkan countries, the discrepancy between EU values in policy and in practice, and the securitisation of migration. The central objective of this thesis is to determine whether EU values have been upheld as well as identifying the responsibility and accountability of actors at the Croatian-Bosnian border through the method of qualitative content analysis. More broadly, the findings will result in country-specific recommendations.

Keywords

EU values, human dignity, migration policy, securitisation, solidarity

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 13. 10. 2020

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 6. 7. 2020
• Supervisor: Prof. Wieger Bakker
• Reader: prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
International Territorial Studies / European Governance