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.
Description:
This study "effect of migration policies on human rights in the European neighbourhood: the cases of Georgia, Kosovo and Lebanon" was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Subcommittee on Human Rights.