| CODE | EST2233 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Contemporary Migration Issues Across the Mediterranean (History, Policy and International Law) | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | European Studies | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Over the past decade, migration and asylum have been one of the most prominent issues on the political agenda of the European Union. Conflicts, instability and socio-economic challenges in the EU’s neighbourhoods have increased the number of people trying to cross the Mediterranean and enter EU territory. Many resort to irregular means of entry facilitated by smugglers, putting their lives at risk. Meanwhile populist parties that are framing migration as social, political, cultural and economic threat have been on the rise across the EU. Against that backdrop, several EU member states have been accused of violating national, European and international legal obligations in their efforts to deter migrants from entering their territory. At the same time, the EU has revised its legal and administrative frameworks, reinforced its external borders, and intensified cooperation with third countries. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit provides a comprehensive overview of the political, institutional and legal architecture of migration and asylum in the EU as well as its historical evolution. Focusing on the Mediterranean region, it explores key events and issues that shaped EU migration and asylum policy. Moreover, it examines the roles and responsibilities of EU institutions and agencies, the interplay between EU and national competences, as well as the impact of landmark legislation and court rulings. In doing so, it also delves into the external dimension of EU migration policy, including partnerships with third countries. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Understand how EU policy on migration and asylum is implemented as well as the challenges the existing legal and policy framework are facing; - Understand the evolution of EU migration and asylum policy; - Discuss the international and EU legal framework on human rights and asylum; - Understand the functioning of the Common European Asylum System; - Identify the EU and Member States migration policies; - Discuss the consequences of measures aiming to stem irregular migration flows; - Appreciate different perspectives on asylum and migration from EU member states, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, civil society and academia; - Identify the role of EU member states, the EU institutions and EU agencies in the development and implementation of EU policy on migration and asylum; - Understand the trend of mainstreaming migration and asylum in EU development policy; - Discuss the EU cooperation with third countries on migration. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyse the root causes and effects of irregular migration; - Critically assess the EU’s approach to migration and asylum over the past decades; - Identify and understand the various legal instruments governing migration and asylum; - Interpret statistical information and trends analyses related to migration; - Accurately use terminology related to migration and asylum. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Goldner Lang, Iris. ‘No Solidarity without Loyalty: Why Do Member States Violate EU Migration and Asylum Law and What Can Be Done?’ European Journal of Migration and Law 22, no. 1 (2020): 39–59. - Kingsley, Patrick. The New Odyssey. The Story of Europe’s Refugee Crisis. London: Faber, 2017. - Koser, Khalid. International Migration: A Very Short Introduction. Second edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. - Peers, Steve. “EU Immigration and Asylum Law.” In A Companion to European Union Law and International Law, edited by Dennis Patterson and Anna Södersten, 519–33. Wiley, 2016. Supplementary Readings: - Carr, Matthew. Fortress Europe: Inside the War against Immigration. London: Hurst, 2015. - Geddes, Andrew, Leila Hadj-Abdou, and Leiza Brumat. Migration and Mobility in the European Union. London: Red Globe Press, 2020. - Geddes, Andrew Peter, and Peter Scholten. The Politics of Migration and Immigration in Europe. Second edition. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2016. - Goldner Lang, Iris. ‘No Solidarity without Loyalty: Why Do Member States Violate EU Migration and Asylum Law and What Can Be Done?’ European Journal of Migration and Law 22, no. 1 (2020): 39–59. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Ragnar Weilandt |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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