European Union border security : national versus multilateral operations

Abstract

The advent of the European migration crisis as a consequence of the events of the Arab Spring has proved to be one of the key challenges to the European project in this Century. The economic, social and political ramifications of this phenomenon have the potential to shape the future of the European Union not only as an organisation but also as an idea. It is therefore important for the European Union to address this situation in a cohesive and practical manner but also by implementing the ideals which the European project was founded upon, namely, the promotion of human dignity, Equality, the rule of law, universal human rights and justice. As such, this study aims to outline and understand the European Union’s response to the crisis by examining its actions in the Mediterranean Sea though the use of multilateral border security operations in the form of Joint operations being organised by Frontex, Europe’s Border and Coast Guard Agency and exploring the different degrees by which unilateral action by national state governments have acted in mitigating the negative effects of migration and how they have tackled the issue of securing the European Union’s External Border. The study seeks to gauge the various variables and factors which have effected migratory trends across the Mediterranean as well as studying the various European led developments which have effected these routes and the functioning of these operations throughout the years of the European migration crisis.