"Emerging 'Externalisation' Dimension of the EU Migration Policy and its Reflection on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum: Analysis from the Perspective of Civil Society Organisations"

Farrukh ABDUKHALILOV

Master's thesis

"Emerging 'Externalisation' Dimension of the EU Migration Policy and its Reflection on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum: Turkey as a Case Study"

Abstract:

The EU migration management policy is a complex topic with many aspects that must be taken into account, such as the safety of those seeking protection or a better life as well as the issues facing the EU Member States which are on the front lines and fear that the pressure of illegal migration will put a strain on their capacity and need support from other Member States. The rest of the Member States, on the other hand, are worried about the security of the external borders and realise that their own national asylum, integration, and return systems will not be able to handle the scenario of a major influx if necessary steps are not put in place. That's why the European Commission announced the New Pact on Migration and Asylum as a fresh start to address those challenges more effectively. The New Pact has been discussed by many migration stakeholders including the civil society organisations operating at the European level. Many of the CSOs published their proposals in regards to the New Pact which discussed its different components including the externalisation dimension of the EU migration policy. Considering that, the research aims to explore the externalisation dimension of the European Union migration policy in the New Pact from the perspective of the European-level civil society organisations. Therefore, the research question is the following: how do the European-level CSOs working in the field of migration and asylum evaluate the externalisation dimension of the European Union migration policy in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum? Precisely, the thesis explores the evaluation of the externalisation and its patterns of development in the New Pact. This helps the research to understand the origins of the externalisation phenomenon in the EU migration management framework and analyse it relying on the proposals of the civil society organisations that critically frame and assess the New Pact. The research is exploratory built on interpretivism. The thesis relies on a qualitative research method to satisfy the research problem and question. Although the outcomes of this method are not measurable, the advantage of using it offers a full analysis of a research subject without imposing limits to the scope of the research. Implementation of the "failing forward" and path dependence theory frameworks contributes to the facilitation of the analysis. Taking into consideration the dynamic nature of migration and migration related strategies, the present research faces challenges when it comes to backing up the arguments academically concerning the New Pact. However, the thesis adds to the discussion on the externalisation dimension of the European Union migration management by compiling the existing knowledge and literature to create a better picture of the current situation and developments, instead of focusing on a single aspect of the process like orchestration or securitisation. Besides, the research aim and research question are relevant since the externalisation of migration management is becoming a normal instrument for the European Union despite the critical consequences for migrants' human rights and safety.

Abstract:

The EU migration management policy is a complex topic with many aspects that must be taken into account, such as the safety of those seeking protection or a better life as well as the issues facing the EU Member States which are on the front lines and fear that the pressure of illegal migration will put a strain on their capacity and need support from other Member States. The rest of the Member States, on the other hand, are worried about the security of the external borders and realise that their own national asylum, integration, and return systems will not be able to handle the scenario of a major influx if necessary steps are not put in place. That's why the European Commission announced the New Pact on Migration and Asylum as a fresh start to address those challenges more effectively. The New Pact has been discussed by many migration stakeholders including the civil society organisations operating at the European level. Many of the CSOs published their proposals in regards to the New Pact which discussed its different components including the externalisation dimension of the EU migration policy. Considering that, the research aims to explore the externalisation dimension of the European Union migration policy in the New Pact from the perspective of the European-level civil society organisations. Therefore, the research question is the following: how do the European-level CSOs working in the field of migration and asylum evaluate the externalisation dimension of the European Union migration policy in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum? Precisely, the thesis explores the evaluation of the externalisation and its patterns of development in the New Pact. This helps the research to understand the origins of the externalisation phenomenon in the EU migration management framework and analyse it relying on the proposals of the civil society organisations that critically frame and assess the New Pact. The research is exploratory built on interpretivism. The thesis relies on a qualitative research method to satisfy the research problem and question. Although the outcomes of this method are not measurable, the advantage of using it offers a full analysis of a research subject without imposing limits to the scope of the research. Implementation of the "failing forward" and path dependence theory frameworks contributes to the facilitation of the analysis. Taking into consideration the dynamic nature of migration and migration related strategies, the present research faces challenges when it comes to backing up the arguments academically concerning the New Pact. However, the thesis adds to the discussion on the externalisation dimension of the European Union migration management by compiling the existing knowledge and literature to create a better picture of the current situation and developments, instead of focusing on a single aspect of the process like orchestration or securitisation. Besides, the research aim and research question are relevant since the externalisation of migration management is becoming a normal instrument for the European Union despite the critical consequences for migrants' human rights and safety.

Keywords

New Pact on Migration and Asylum, civil society organisations, European Union migration policy, externalisation policy, illegal border crossings, migration management, path dependence, 'safe third country' rule, tailor-made partnerships

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 26. 7. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Daniel Topinka, Ph.D.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Humanities / Euroculture