Migration Ethics · Migration Ethics
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-10-01 → 2021-12-30
- EU contribution
- €172,932
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Migration Ethics
The project investigated how states should respond when large numbers of people in severe need seek to migrate. States need to decide whom they protect. International law and EU policy singles out refugees, but arguably states have duties towards all migrants in need. States must decide where to protect. Sometimes it is argued that, rather than providing asylum, states can send migrants to safe third countries or intervene in the country of origin against the threats that people are fleeing. Finally, if states are to enforce immigration restrictions, they must decide how to exclude. Given the large numbers of people dying at borders, we need to investigate the means by which states enforce borders and their ethical ramifications. This research project pursued these questions. To this end, it set the following objectives: to (1) produce at least four publications developing new lines of research, (2) host workshops discussing the themes of the project and (3) disseminate research to a wider audience through various outreach activities including presentations, media articles and a podcast. The project was hosted by the University of Pompeu Fabra under the supervision of Paula Casal.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Over the last three years, millions have attempted to cross the EU frontier. Some are fleeing war and persecution; others poverty. The EU has struggled to find an acceptable response. It is aware that the denial of legal entry encourages risky crossings and that many of those migrating are refugees. Yet it is also keen to limit immigration. It has therefore responded by insisting on a sharp distinction between refugees and economic migrants, making some exceptions for the former, while seeking to exclude the latter. It has also obtained an agreement with Turkey that permits the EU to return migrants in exchange for various benefits. This response seems to have been effective in limiting migration along the Turkey-Greece route. Nevertheless, the large numbers migrating along other routes, the lack of sufficient protection for many refugees and the high death toll at sea, all cast doubt on the adequacy of the EU response. This research project will be the first within ethical theory to address the ethics of migration in the context of the Mediterranean crisis. It will assess how EU states should respond to such large waves of migration. It focusses on three questions. First, which migrants are entitled to protection? International law and EU policy single out refugees, but the research project will investigate whether states have duties towards other migrants as well. Second, of those who are entitled to protection, where should they be protected? The EU-Turkey agreement effectively involves the outsourcing of protection to Turkey. Such “safe third country” agreements are ethically controversial. Third, if it is permissible to exclude some migrants, how should they be excluded? Given the numbers that are currently dying while trying to evade migration restrictions, it is important to explore the various methods of restriction to see which, if any, are ethically defensible and, given the current regulatory framework, legally feasible.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSIDAD POMPEU FABRA · BarcelonaCoordinatorSpain
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union