Myths around asylum seeking: a more coherent approach to forced migration?

Most asylum seekers in Europe come from states affected by high levels of violence, oppression and conflict. On arrival, they are often treated with contempt by politicians, the press and the public. Why have policies failed to curb the flow of forced migrants? Should the European Commission focus on strengthening the borders of ‘Fortress Europe’? 

A report from the Institute for Public Policy Research and Oxford University’s Centre for Refugee Studies critiques current EU policies to address the phenomenon of illegal and forced migration. It warns that those in need of protection will seek sanctuary in Europe as long as violence and human rights violations go unchecked.   

In the 1990s, the top 10 countries of origin of asylum seekers were the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sri Lanka, Iran, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The report identifies common ‘push factors’ in all of these states: ethnic or religious discrimination, human rights abuses, civil war and a large proportion of internally displaced people relative to the total population.

Europe’s fight against illegal migration has diverted attention from addressing its root causes. Changes in procedures for asylum discrimination and criteria, introduction of temporary protection regimes (used to ensure those fleeing the Balkan wars went home) and declaring Central European states as ‘safe third countries’ to which asylum seekers can be returned, have made it more difficult for those genuinely in need of protection to get asylum while encouraging smugglers and traffickers.

The authors stress that:

• Flows of forced migrants to Europe are comparatively small when considered against global displacement movements – Iran and Pakistan have much greater refugee ‘burdens’.
• There is evidence that underdevelopment is not a major push factor for forced migration.
• Even when fleeing violence or persecution and in need of protection, some asylum seekers have a degree of control over where they go and how they travel.
• Policy-makers may aspire to make clear distinctions between economic and forced migrants but the migration-asylum connection defies simplistic judgement: many migrants have multiple motivations for moving.
• Once a migratory flow is established it may be driven by social networks and chain migration patterns, even where policies in relation to asylum seekers change.
• Discrimination against Kurds is a key factor behind the large number of Iranian, Iraqi and Turkish nationals seeking asylum.

The EU needs to analyse why there have been such divergences between policy-making fora. All relevant Directorates-General of the European Commission, EU member states and interior and foreign ministries within each state need to start working in tandem to implement agreed objectives in addressing the root causes of forced migration.

Sustainable reduction of migration flows requires:

• long-term joined-up policies to address issues of conflict-prevention and development
• ending arms exports to regimes with poor human-rights records and those engaged in internal oppression or violence against their neighbours
• concerted action against illicit trading in diamonds, coltan, cobalt and other commodities which fuel conflicts
• ensuring that the EU’s High Level Working Group operates more transparently, values expertise from all policy areas and develops measurable policies and programmes.

Source(s):
‘States of conflict: causes and patterns of forced migration to the EU and policy responses’, Institute for Public Policy Research, by Stephen Castles, Heaven Crawley and Sean Loughna, 2003

Funded by: European Commission

id21 Research Highlight: 9 September 2003

Further Information:
Heaven Crawley
Institute for Public Policy Research
30-32 Southampton Street
London WC2E 7RA
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7470 6150
Fax: +44 (0)20 7470 6111
Contact the contributor: h.crawley@ippr.org

Institute for Public Policy Research, UK

Stephen Castles and Sean Loughna
Refugee Studies Centre
Queen Elizabeth House
21 St Giles
Oxford OX1 3LA
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1865 270722
Fax: +44 (0)1865 270721
Contact the contributor: Stephen.castles@qeh.ox.ac.uk

Contact the contributor: sean.loughna@qeh.ox.ac.uk

Other related links:
'Separating children from their rights? How Europe fails child asylum seekers'

'Could do much better: Britain’s treatment of young refugees under the spotlight'

'Involvement and empowerment. Better HIV prevention and education for Britain's refugees'

'Responding to displacement: Balancing needs and rights' Insights #44

See id21's links on forced migration