The 2016 EU-Turkey Refugee Statement: A case of further securitization?

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the 2016 agreement between the European Union and Turkey, known as the 2016 EU-Turkey Refugee Statement. The agreement between the two parties came at a time when the mobility of migratory flows was increasing as a result of the war in Syria and the general political instability in the Middle East. European Union member states, whose asylum systems were overwhelmed by the volume of asylum seekers, were therefore eager to work with Turkey to limit irregular entry into the EU and disrupt the smugglers' business model. Considering that the cooperation between the EU and Turkey enshrined in the Statement is nowadays considered a successful solution to reduce irregular migration flows and could be a model for future cooperation with third countries, this paper examines the results of this cooperation in terms of the human rights of refugees themselves. Incorporating evidence from academic research articles and reviews, this study aims to show how the 2016 Refugee Statement behind its noble goal of stopping deaths in the Mediterranean and creating safe routes for legitimate refugees, is actually a political compromise between the EU and Turkey. Looking at this trade-off through the lens of securitization theory, this paper seeks to understand the reasons why immigration is seen as an existential problem that threatens the integrity of the nation-state politically, socially, and economically in the context of EU member states. The study goes a step further and acknowledges the EU's influence on Turkey's migration and refugee policies by shedding light on the ongoing relationship between the two parties. As a result, the study finds that the EU has shown itself willing to work with a state whose illiberal political character has otherwise prevented it from joining the EU. Reopening accession talks at a time of "existential danger" is a preferred tool of the EU, which links membership issues and visa facilitation to the humanitarian issue of asylum in diplomatic negotiations with Turkey. However, the link between political compromise and humanitarian issues has led to a situation in which both parties have sought to protect their regional and national borders, using unusual methods that have had devastating consequences for both the refugees themselves and the communities that host them. In light of these findings, it seems certain that the European Union's policy of outsourcing its migration management to third countries stems from its own inability to achieve adequate burden sharing among its member states. Ultimately, it is this inability that could prove to be an existential threat to the Union, as it leads to tensions between native and foreign communities, especially when the latter are seen as not belonging and therefore do not have sufficient opportunities to thrive in their new environment.