Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE EST2233

 
TITLE Contemporary Migration Issues Across the Mediterranean (History, Policy and International Law)

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT European Studies

 
DESCRIPTION Asylum and immigration are amongst the most salient policy issues in the European Union.

In the past 3 decades, the EU has become a major destination for migrants due to the interplay between several push and pull factors. Push factors include political and social instability in the EU neighborhood, economic challenges and demographic trends in countries of origin while pull factors include increased economic renewal and opportunities in the EU coupled with a stronger EU framework for those who seek protection. Migrants often have to resort to irregular means of entry facilitated by smugglers, putting their lives at high risk to escape war, persecution, poverty, or to reunite with their families, find work, or seek better education opportunities.

Mindful of the internal and external policy dimensions of migration and asylum, for the past years, the EU has embarked on the difficult process to create a legal and policy framework to better manage migration flows and potential crises. This includes the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), the strengthening of the EU external border, a focus on enhanced cooperation with third countries on migration and asylum, including for return and readmission purposes, and increased legal entry channel to the EU through resettlement, mobility arrangements and private sponsorship.

Study-Unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to provide a comprehensive overview of the political, institutional and legal architecture of migration and asylum in the EU and an analysis of how the EU policy on migration and asylum is shaped and implemented with an emphasis on the Mediterranean region.

The study-unit will also examine the relevant EU and international legal frameworks and policies, together with the role played by the key institutional partners post Lisbon Treaty in their design and implementation. Analyses of relevant EU migration and asylum statistics and contextual elements will be performed. Specific focus will be placed on the aspects of CEAS, asylum, legal migration and irregular migration, integration and return, and EU external cooperation with third countries on migration.

The study-unit will examine/look into the development of the CEAS and its external dimension, its ongoing reform and its impact on the wider EU migration policies. For increased interest and relevance, the study-unit will regularly focus on the Mediterranean region with a view to understanding migration routes, regional similarities, differences, solutions and policy approaches. The study-unit will seek to inform students of the challenges faced by the EU and by the EU Member States, in particular since the 2015 migration crisis, and to evaluate the policies and measures adopted so far. The study-unit includes, when possible, the participation of guest lecturers and practitioners from EU, international institutions, and NGOs.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- understand how EU policy on migration and asylum is shaped and implemented in current times, the challenges and the limits of the existing legal and policy framework;
- understand the evolution of EU migration and asylum policy over recent years;
- discuss the International and EU legal framework on human rights and asylum;
- interpret statistical information and trends analyses;
- understand the development of the Common European Asylum System and the functioning of its various instruments;
- identify the EU and Member States migration policies;
- provide arguments for and against measures to stem irregular migration flows;
- appreciate contrasting or complementary perspectives from Member States, International Organisations, non-governmental organisations, civil society, academia, etc.;
- identify the role of Member States, the EU institutions, and EU agencies in the development and implementation of EU policy on migration and asylum;
- understand the need to mainstream migration and asylum in development issues;
- discuss the EU cooperation with third countries on migration.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- analyse the root causes and effects of irregular migration;
- critically assess the EU’s approach to immigration and asylum in the past decades;
- identify the different legal migration instruments;
- use the different migration and asylum-related terms correctly.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Armstrong, A. B. (2019). You Shall Not Pass: How the Dublin System Fueled Fortress Europe. Chicago Journal of International Law, 20(2), 332–383
- Chapter 1-2 in Kingsley, P. (2016). The new odyssey: The story of Europe’s refugee crisis. Guardian Faber Publishing
- Choquet, S. (2017). Models of Integration in Europe. 8 https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/doc/questions-d-europe/qe-449-en.pdf
- Cusumano, E., Fellow, J. M., & Villa, M. (2019). Sea Rescue NGOs: A Pull Factor of Irregular Migration? 10
- Fargues, P., & Fandrich, C. (2012). Migration after the Arab Spring. MPC RESEARCH REPORT 2012/09, 27
- Geddes, A. (2017). Chapter 12. Police and judicial cooperation: Integrating security interests. In A. Geddes, Institutions of the European Union. Oxford University Press
- Guiraudon, V. (2018). the 2015 refugee crisis was not a turning point: Explaining policy inertia in EU border control. European Political Science, 17(1), 151–160. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41304-017-0123-x
- Koser, K. (2016). International Migration: A Very Short Introduction (Second Edition). Oxford University Press. Ch. 2-3-4-5-6
- Luedtke, A. (2011). Uncovering European Union Immigration Legislation: Policy Dynamics and Outcomes. International Migration, 49(2), 1–27
- Maru, M. T. (2021). Migration Policy-Making in Africa: Determinants and Implications for Cooperation with Europe. SSRN Electronic Journal
- Peers, S. (2016). EU Immigration and Asylum Law. In A Companion to European Union Law and International Law (pp. 519–533).

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Class attendance is obligatory, as this is a seminar based course and assessment depends on class participation. Should a student miss more than two sessions, the lecturer may refuse to allow the student to sit for the exam.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation SEM2 Yes 30%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S Marta Migliorati

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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