Politics of Illegal Immigration

Politics of Illegal ImmigrationTopic 3 Illegal Migration to Europe by Sea epitomeIllegal migration, the presence on territory of a phallus State, of a third-country national who does not fulfill, or no longer fulfils the conditions of entry as do out in Article 5 of the Schengen Borders Code or other conditions for the entry, stay or residence in that Member State1, is a hale reality for the European conglutination and will increasingly affect a wide range of issues. The signifi rearce and complexity of prohibited immigration by ocean is rivaled only by the lethargy with which EU institutions and member state governments have acted. This document will provide a background of the accepted situation, introduce and explain pertinent EU institutions and briefly explain the effects that illegal migration by sea has on the EU system. In confronting these challenges at the eleventh annual Chicago foreign Model United Nations, delegates should recall the words of Chicagos master u rban planner, Daniel BurnhamMake no little plans. They have no magic to dither mens blood and probably will not themselves be realizedBackground of Illegal Migration by Sea In assessing the status of migration to Europe by sea, it flush toilet be affirmatively stated as existing in a state of permanent crisis. The Migration Policy Centre further cautions that the relationship between challenge and prospect in migration as a whole is unbalanced by illegal sea migration, and notes in its annual report to the EU that while well-managed migration may entertain progress and welfare in origin- as well as destination countries, its mismanagement may put social cohesion, security and national sovereignty at risk.2 The Migration Policy Institute3 delves into more details and articulates rough of the key aspects of this crisis, citing the negative impact of undermining the rule of law, fostering labor exploitation, increasing poverty (by taking jobs aside from native workers or adding t o the numbers of poor in a country) , and putting pressure on public services.4Operating within this state of affairs is the current situation in 2014, which the EUs external border security agency Frontexs5 annual risk analysis calculates to be a record-breaking form for illegal sea (as well as air and land) migration.6 In its report, Frontex notes thatMigration towards the EU in 2013 was characterised sic by three main phenomena a significant increase in the number of Syrians arriving, a steady flow of migrants departing from North Africa and heading across the Mediterranean to Italy, and a sharp increase in spottings of irregular migrants on the westerly Balkan route.This seemingly ever increasing volume of migrants finds its constant in its ever changing composition. Separated by geography and language, thousands of illegal migrants attempt the journey into the EU for the same reasons. In an effort to be quickly accessible to delegates, these reasons are briefly and broadly listed hereWar and other forms of violent conflict/civic breakdownFleeing human rights abuses, including but not limited toGenocide/Massacres/Ethnic CleansingPolitical/Religious/Societal persecutionTrafficking/Child Labor/Slavery economic chaosDelegates should continue to be mindful that this list is neither intended to, nor is, a comprehensive summation of the motivations and external factors behind illegal migration by sea (or any other route) into the EU.Geopolitics of Illegal Migration by SeaGiven the geo semipolitical nature of migration, a visual data map is useful in concord written analysis in terms of distance, geography and other, more human factors. In addition to understanding the data map provided here, delegates would be prudent to strain out and understand a variety of maps and data.Illegal migration by sea into Europe makes international headlines regularly and EU policymakers have been under both political and public pressure for several years now. However, the na tional governments of EU member-states respond to illegal migration in a wide variety of ways. As the Schengen Agreement7 has removed innate borders, it is the external border that requires extensive collaboration between national and EU institutions8. Frontexs annual reports provide greater understanding of the macro-level patterns of migration. One of the important things that can be discerned from the reports is that while the migrant corridors are constant (such is the nature of geography), their appeal is volatile and subject to change with the tides and crosscurrents of European, African and Middle Eastern geopolitics. In 2009, the superlative number of illegal migrants entered the EU after coming ashore in Albania. In 2012, this eastern Mediterranean route had shifted south to Greece. In 2013 and at the beat of this writing in 2014, the majority of sea-faring migrants seek to reach Europe through Italy, Malta, Spain or Greece. 9 For these migrants, UNHCR data indicates tha t the most common current starting point is Libya.10 Libyas attractive qualities include a present state of lawlessness and a long, unpatrolled Mediterranean coastline.TerminologyAs with any complex issue involving the institutions and apparatuses of a bureaucracy, illegal migration to Europe by sea is fraught with important differences in terminology. There are currently 28 EU member-states, resulting in 28 different immigration policies. And while the MPI notes that that some of the elements of those 28 systems are in the process of harmonization (notably asylum)11 it concludes that ultimately, unauthorized migrates are categorized as such by the states into which they migrate, and EU Member States have not reached a common definition of this migrant population. 12 In this climate of disharmony among the member-states, this section is intended to provide delegates with introductory remarks pertaining to some of the tools the EU and member-states employ with regards to the topic at hand.MARE NOSTRUMA military/ humane effort by Italy that operates in the Mediterranean. Launched in response to a highly published episode in October 2013 during which 360 drowned off the coast of Lampedusa, a small Italian island situated half-way between Sicily and Africa, Mare Nostrum has been a humanitarian success13 and an economic burden Italy resents. In the same vein, Mare Nostrum is not only a drastic reversal of a long standing Italian policy on returning migrants at sea to Libya, but a point of contention between Italy and the EU. During an August 2014 G6 meeting, Italys interior minister, Angelino Alfano held a press conference during which he stated that with regard to immigration, Italy has once again shown itself to be a world champion in hospitality, But he added that, if the European partnership and its border management agency did not take over the operation, the Italian government will have to take decisions on the matter14.FRONTEXOfficially, the European Agency for the anxiety of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union, Frontex promotes, coordinates and develops European border management in line with the EU fundamental rights charter applying the concept of interconnected Border Management15. However, Frontexs successes in vigorous data collection and risk analysis has been tainted by criticism of its responsibilities and parameters. For example, Frontex currently has no depute to search for or rescue migrants at sea and has maintained that this remains a competence of Member States16. However, Frontex does have primacy in coordinating cooperation between member-states that do conduct such operations and this discrepancy is problematic, to say the least.EUROSUREurosur (European Border Surveillance System) is an information network designed to reduced barriers to the exchange of information between EU member-states. Specifically, information that pertains to unauthorized border crossin gs and to the risks to the lives of migrants, cross border crime, crisis situations and suspect vehicles at external borders17. Eurosur is slated to be fully operational by December 1, 2014. Delegates are further to keep this in mind as the conference will be ongoing during the first few weeks of a full realized Eurosur. What is already readily apparent however is that Eurosur will be no more or less than what Frontex and member-states make of it? While it could prove useful in early detection and rescue of migrates, it also has the potential to bring to the fore a question that the EU, and this committee must grapple with. Namely, what specifically do to with those who have been rescued? endIllegal migration by sea gives a new name to an old problem. The movement of peoples in search of a better life. In doing so it has opened an unnerving lack of solidarity among EU member-states even as the tools and institutions of the European Union increasingly overlap. But the union is noth ing without the national governments of member-states and this conclusion leaves delegates with more questions than answers. For example, if the fiscal burden of sea rescue operations was spread across the EU, would the Mediterranean members expand their programs or would an EU budget merely replace, rather than complement a national one? Questions like this, as well as possible answers are to be any delegates most stalwart companion before and during the conference.1 European Commission, Directive 2008/115/EC on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals. Official Journal of the European Union (L 348 2008), http//eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJL200834800980107ENPDE2 http//www.migrationpolicycentre.eu/docs/MPC-RR-2013-009.pdf3 The Migration Policy Centre is an research institution affiliated with the European University Institute, Florence while the Migration Policy Institute is an independent, nonparti san, nonprofit think tank in Washington, DC4 http//www.migrationpolicy.org/research/TCM-irregular-migration-europe56 http//frontex.europa.eu/news/frontex-publishes-annual-risk-analysis-2014-wc71Jn7 The Schengen area allows freedom of movement for all travelers, irrespective of citizenship. Schengen comprises all EU member-states with the exception of the UK and Ireland. EU member-states Cyprus, Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria are legally obligated to trade union and are in the process of implementing the Agreement. Additionally, European Economic Area (EEA) states Switzerland, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway are within Schengen.8 http//www.migrationpolicycentre.eu/docs/MPC-RR-2013-009.pdf9 http//frontex.europa.eu/news/frontex-publishes-annual-risk-analysis-2014-wc71Jn10 http//www.migrationpolicy.org/research/TCM-irregular-migration-europe11 Ibid12 Ibid13 With 62,982 people rescued by the operation consequently far according to figures released by Italys Interior Ministry14 http//ww w.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/15/italy-coalition-government-angelino-alfano-immigration-tension-mare-nostrum15 http//frontex.europa.eu/about-frontex/mission-and-tasks16 http//www.statewatch.org/analyses/200-frontex-search-rescue.pdf17 Memo 13/864 of the European Commission of October 8, 2013