MonikaBegovicPhDInternationalConference,Bratislava,May2016

THEMIGRATIONCHALLENGES

-TheMigrationChallenges:HumanRights,InternationalCooperationandMigration

Management-

WesternBalkanroutetowardsSchengenborders

WESTERNBALKANS–BEFOREANDTODAY

WESTERNBALKANS–BEFORE

Yugoslavwars in the ‘90s due to the dissolution ofthe former Yugoslaviaà formation of independentsuccessor states à numerous refugees anddisplacedpersonsintheWesternBalkanareaà~4 million people have been displaced or havebecome refugees in the former Yugoslavia in theperiodbetween1991–1999;~800.000 people emigrated to other Europeancountries&USA

WESTERNBALKANS–TODAY

WESTERNBALKANS–TODAY

In 2015~800.000migrants usedWestern Balkansroute toenter thewesternEuropeancountries (outof 1.321.560 total asylum claims in EU in 2015accordingtoEurostat)In 2016 Western Balkan countries close theirborders à result: in ^irst 2 months ~130.000migrants

HUMANRIGHTS?

UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights–UNTherighttoasylumisoneofthebasichumanrights– Ifweare frightenedofbeingbadly treated inourown country, we all have the right to run away toanothercountrytobesafe

HUMANRIGHTS?

Returning migrants to Turkey – violating humanrights?PolandwantstoreceiveonlyChristianrefugessfromSyria–violatinghumanrights?Conditions in migrant camps - UN accused Czechrepublic of holding migrants in ‘degrading’conditions

HUMANRIGHTS?

INTERNATIONALCOOPERATION?

Nocommonanduni9iedEUresponse!Someresults:Hungary–conservativegovernment–172kmfencekeeping migrants out – keeps the Western BalkanisolatedCzechdeputyPMAndrejBabiscalledSchengenzonetobeclosedwithNATOtroopsAustria’s Foreign Minister warned on introducinganti-migrationmeasureswithbordercontrols

WESTERNBALKANSANDMIGRATIONMANAGEMENT

•  BalkansSummit–August2015inViennawithinBerlin process – solutions on dealing with^inancialburdensinrelationtomigrantsissues

•  Balkanmini summit–October 2015 – 17-pointplan–setofoperationalmeasures–EUapprovedadditional 17 million Euro to assist FYRMacedoniaandSerbia

COOPERATIONAMONGWESTERNBALKANCOUNTRIES–MIGRATIONMANAGEMENT?

•  Bilateralmeetingsonimprovingcooperation

COOPERATIONOFWESTERNBALKANCOUNTRIESWITHTHEEU

•  WesternBalkancountriesrelyonEuropeanUnionandinternationalassistanceintheirwaysofdealingwiththeproblems

POSSIBLECONSEQUENCES

•  newEuropeannationalism?•  razor-wirefencesandrenewedbordercontrolsàmigrationmanagementorendofSchengenarea?

•  homegrownterror;fear•  jeopardizedinternationalsecurity

QUESTIONSTOASK

•  Common Foreign and Security Policy – does itfunctioninreality?

•  Are EU member countries united in having acommonvoice?

•  NATOorCommonSecurityandDefencePolicy?

MESSAGETOHEAR

FedericaMogherini:‘It’s sad to see Europe panicking before 700,000refugees.Thisisasignofaweakness.’

TheGuardian,January2016

Thankyou