The project is centred around two interlinked objectives. The first is to assess the policy experience and potential future trajectories of EU-Mediterranean dialogue focusing on the field of borders and migration. This will take place in terms of a stock-taking of the achievements as well as shortcomings and future perspectives of EU-MED regional cooperation that reflects the political and cultural limits of the EU¿s influence. This objective will also target the definition of new policy roles for the EU and neighbouring countries based on a productive understanding of the EU¿s (geo)political identity and potential actorness both regionally and more globally.
The second objective of this project is to conduct empirical research (quantitative data analysis, qualitative approaches) on the topic of migration in the EU Mediterranean area in order to advance policy and governance centered solutions that could better deal with the current issues associated to migration. The project also aims to advise on how to be better prepared for possible future events that may force individuals to migrate. The study will create and offer new theoretical underpinnings to the current debate on migration as well as new empirical knowledge. The findings of the project are to be used to propose a new understanding of migration and how it relates to the coherence of current EU laws and policies.
