Migration as Foreign Policy? (2009:2)
The external dimension of the European Union’s policy on migration and asylum has become an increasingly important feature of the Union’s relations with third countries. It is shaped not only by the foreign policy interests of the member states but also by changes in internal politics of the member states.
The EU plays a central role in regulating the evolving migration and asylum framework working through a three-stage structure that includes the member states, the Union and third countries.
The author of the present report argues compellingly that the Union needs to develop a balanced approach to migration from third countries linking it to other policy areas such as trade, development policy as well as the traditional foreign policy. The recent ‘migration dialogue’ with third country partners offers a promising approach that should be pursued. The author notes, however, that the deep economic downturn might radically change the way EU member states consider the consequences of immigration stemming from outside the EU in that rising domestic unemployment may discourage ‘managed immigration’ of skilled workers. The intensified intra-EU migration obviously also plays a part in this context. These issues pose numerous challenges for policy-makers to consider and merit vigorous public debate.
The report was presented at the seminar Migration as Foreign Policy? and is a part of the research project Internal and external dimensions of a common asylum and migration policy.
2009:2 Migration as Foreign Policy? The External Dimension of EU Action on Migration and Asylum (220.44 kB)
Sammanfattning på svenska (53.92 kB)
Summary in English (52.44 kB)