The external relations aspect of the EU's migration policy and the question of a fortress Europe in the making

Abstract

This study presents a critical analysis of the latest developments of the external aspect of the European migration policies. The objective is to understand whether the EU is becoming a fortress through its latest relations with third countries. This research seeks to offer an overview of the relations between the EU and the neighbouring transit countries Libya and Turkey; without forgetting the sub-Saharan countries, which are here analysed through the Valletta Summit. The theory of new-institutionalism will help to explain how the European institutions negotiate international agreements and what their priorities and aims are. These priorities will be discovered through the content analysis of chosen agreements and official European sources. Press releases, agreements, official statements and political declarations are the main source of information used to conduct this study. First this study introduces the main researches done so far about the topic of the external dimension of the EU’s migration policies. Secondly, it offers an overview on the origins and developments of the last years. The central part of this research is a study of the relations, in this particular field, between the EU and Libya, secondly between the EU and Turkey, and third between the EU and African countries. The study of these relations shows clearly the priorities of the EU. It can be speculated on how to frame the results. The priorities in the European agenda are: the prevention of illegal migration, and the focus on supporting the transit countries in the reception of third country nationals who are not holding valid documents. After the results of this analysis, the study includes severe critiques towards such policies, especially with regard to the disinterest of human rights and with the concept of a fortress in the making. In view of the latest events in the Mediterranean, European countries and the world politics, such a development needs to be further analysed. The hypothesis accompanying throughout this research is that EU is becoming a fortress in the making.