With the European Union Global Strategy (EUGS) of 2016, the EU has presented its latest foreign policy approach, including security policy and its role in conflicts. The EUGS, has updated the EU’s perception of the world and adjusted it to more recent challenges. Despite this already existing theoretical framework strategy representing its values and ambitions, the Union is still criticised for acting in a conceptual void and not having an actual strategy on its role in a changing word.
The emerging consensus among the EU Member States on the refugee situation is tilting in favour of sealing the borders and pushing back migrants from the European shores. Control, deterrence and outsourcing responsibilities in cooperation with the third countries are the principles that seem to carry the day. It has also caused deep division in Europe as well as within EU Member States, fuelling the rise of the right wing parties. In the absence of a common EU migration policy EU Member States seem to give preference to unilateral, national options.
The refugee and migration ‘crisis’ was, in fact, never about refugees and migrants, but rather a crisis of values and a political crisis.
In this report you can find recommendations to define a future Eruopean refugee policy.