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TRANSCRIPT
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