The European Asylum Policies: An Emerging Security Agenda?

Stekić, Nenad and Arnaudov, Mitko (2017) The European Asylum Policies: An Emerging Security Agenda? In: 3rd International Conference on Human Security. Faculty of Security Studies, Belgrade, pp. 37-45. ISBN 978-86-80144-09-2

Text HS Conference Proceedings 2017-Stekic-Arnaudov.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (242kB)

Abstract

The human security concept within the EU framework was first introduced in Madrid and Barcelona reports respectively. Even within the general policy of the EU, asylum policy as a part of the Human Security approach was marginalized due to resolving the intermember states freedom of movement. Since the Schengen agreement became a crucial document which resolved the issue of movement within the EU borders, European decision makers have devoted themselves to finding solution for the citizens of the third countries (asylum seekers). As one of the key cornerstones of the human security policy, the EU asylum policy had been regulated by the Dublin system consisting of the Dublin III Regulation, EU Qualifi cation Directive and the EURODAC Regulation, until the ongoing military clashes in the Middle East caused the immigration crisis. Th e inability of both the EU institutions as executive supranational bodies of the Union, and the EU regulations as a legislative component, led to the failure of the Dublin System. With the leading idea to provide the essential role of the System, to allow effi cient and rapid responses to the asylum requests, the System was effective and in force until the beginning of the refugee crisis in 2014. A huge influx of the immigrants was the first serious test for EU institutions’ ability to manage the number of asylum applications. This paper aims to study the EU asylum policy from the Human Security perspective. Failure of the Dublin System has signifi cantly infl uenced the securitization of asylum problem. The interregnum followed by the System suspension meant that new policy should be established. Absence of alternative mechanisms for dealing with the crisis and external relations with its neighbouring states had set this question on the emerging security agenda of the Union. The authors apply the securitization theory to explain how the new asylum policy has become the security issue in everyday EU policy. Furthermore, one of the research questions analysed in this paper seeks to provide an adequate answer to how the European Union will manage one of its key principles (free movement) vis-à-vis upcoming global migration processes from the point of human security.

Actions (login required)

View Item