Refugees, Security and the European Union

Description

Asylum and migration are amongst the most contentious political issues in Europe and it has been argued that migrants and asylum-seekers have been securitized in the EU and socially constructed as security threats. This book analyses the extent and the modalities of the securitization of asylum-seekers and refugees in the European Union (EU). It seeks to analytically distinguish the asylum policy of the EU from its policies on migrants and border controls on the basis of the literature on 'venue-shopping' and policy venues. The authors argue that the development of the EU asylum policy, far from 'securitizing' asylum-seekers and refugees, has actually led to the strengthening and codification of several rights for these two categories of persons. However, the securitization of irregular migration had led to a significant strengthening of border controls at the EU external borders, which, in turn, has made it more difficult for asylum-seekers and refugees to access the protection granted by asylum systems in the EU. Empirically examining the entire development of the EU's policy towards asylum-seekers and refugees, from its origins in 1993, this book will of interest to students and scholars of European politics and security, refugees and migration studies and EU policy-making. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Introduction Asylum and migration on the policy agenda Asylum, migration and security in Europe Aims and contributions of the book Methodology Structure of the book Notes 1 A new securitization framework The Copenhagen School’s securitization framework Beyond the Copenhagen School: a new securitization framework Conclusion Notes 2 Asylum, migration and border controls in Europe: the historical context Asylum in Europe Migration in Europe Conclusion Notes 3 Asylum, migration and border controls in the EU: the institutional context The evolution of the institutional arrangements regarding asylum, migration and border controls: towards ‘communitarisation’ The ‘judicialisation’ of the EU asylum policy venue Conclusion 4 The development of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS): the absence of securitization in the EU asylum policy venue Aims and development of the CEAS Asylum legislation in the CEAS: more harmonisation, no securitization Conclusion Notes 5 The securitization of irregular migration at the EU southern borders ‘Migration crisis’ at the Spanish borders (autumn 2005–summer 2006) The ‘migration crisis’ at the EU southern borders: a case of securitization? Conclusion 6 Terrorism and the securitization of asylum-seekers and refugees Asylum and terrorism after 9/11: securitization through association? Terrorism, security and the extra-territorial processing of asylum claims Asylum and terrorism in the context of the 2015–2016 crises: securitization through association? The securitization of asylum-seekers and refugees in the EU – the shape of things to come Conclusion Conclusion Revisiting the aims of the book Main research findings of the book Interviews: identity coded Bibliography Index