Effect of migration policies on human rights in the European neigbourhood

Abstract

Cooperation with third states constitutes an important pillar of the EU’s migration policy. This study analyses to which extent the cooperation between the EU and its neighbouring countries had an impact on the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees in the respective countries. It gives a general overview of the state of the art of national migration policies and legislations in the Eastern and Western European neighbourhood and the Western Balkan states. .Three case studies on Georgia, Kosovo and Lebanon illustrate further the country specific situation of migrants and refugees and provide for a detailed analysis of the implications the EU engagement had on the protection of human rights. The development of national migration policies was mainly due to the engagement of the EU, however, these policies have been shaped rather by EU security considerations than by national migration-related concerns leading to the adoption of very restrictive national migration policies likely to endanger the rights of migrants. The study concludes by offering a set of recommendations to encourage the EU to move the debate on future cooperation with neigbouring states on migration issues in a more migrants’ rights centred direction that is in compliance with the principles of the rule of law, good governance, democracy and human rights.