Regional Thematic Study: Management of the External Borders of the EU and its Impact on the Human Rights of Migrants

Concept Note
Introduction
Globalisation, demographic and climate change, war, conflict, human rights violations and societal transformations have been contributing to movements of people all around the world. There are an estimated 214 million international migrants worldwide, of whom 44 million are reportedly forcibly displaced and an estimated 50 million are living and working abroad in irregular situations1.
Although migration to and from the European region is not a new phenomenon, since the 1990s this region has witnessed a sharp increase in migration movements. In particular, growing numbers of migrants, from within Europe, Africa and further afar are making their way across the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans, and through overland routes in the hope of entering European Union (EU). Indeed, with 42,672 km of external borders and 8,826 km of land borders, the Schengen free-movement area comprises 26 countries (including four non-EU states) with over 300 million crossings at the external borders in 2009 alone.
While migration policies have traditionally been the domain of individual EU Member States, the EU has in the past two decades engaged in a process of harmonisation of the rules of admission and residence of third country nationals and established a common EU policy. In particular since the 1990s the EU has developed an important apparatus of legislation, institutions and programmes in the area of border control. In 2005 FRONTEX was established to enhance external border security by coordinating the operational cooperation of EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries. Defined for the first time by the European Council in December 2005, and further developed in 2007 and 2008, the European Commission has also expanded its