The European Governance of Migration: The External Dimensions

Project Title
The European Governance of Migration: The External Dimension – “EGMED”

Period of Implementation
September 2017 – August 2020 (M36)

Co-financing bodies
-European Commission (Erasmus + Programme)
-University of Athens (NTUA)

Grant Number
Jean Monnet Activities 2017 (Centres of Excellence) Decision Nr. 2017-2339 / 001-001

Project Reference: 586999-EPP-1-2017-1-EL-EPPJMO-CoE

Scientific Coordinator
Prof. Yannis Valinakis

Programme Description
In the framework of the Jean Monnet 2017 Activities, funded by the European Commission, the Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence extends its European Governance Programme for the period 2017-2020 to a new thematic area, the Migration Governance. The aim is to study the external aspects of the recent migratory crisis and refugee flows towards the European Union and, in particular, Greece. Migration management has indeed become one of the most crucial political issues on the EU agenda in recent years, with different approaches from many EU Member States. As a result, our country was faced with a serious humanitarian crisis due to its geographical location, insularity and its extensive coastline, but also due to its proximity to Turkey. The programme aims to focus on the analysis of the challenges related to the crisis management, as well as to elaborate proposals for addressing them on the European, regional and Greek levels.

Within the framework of the project, three cycles of training seminars and special workshops will be implemented in the period 2017-2020. The first round of seminars took place from 30 October to 11 December 2017, under the title “The European Migration Management in the Eastern Mediterranean: The EU, Turkey and Greece”. There will be a seminar focusing on “European asylum and refugee law” (Spring 2018) and a seminar focusing on “Management of the external European borders” (Summer 2018).

More information on the JM Projects Platform

Summary

The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence proposes to expand its European Governance Programme to focus on the governance of migration/refugee flows. The goal is to study the external aspects of irregular migration, one of the crucial political subjects for the EU. The proposed programme will be inter-disciplinary, with the teaching staff being selected based on expertise, diverse backgrounds and various Universities. The scope of EU studies at the University of Athens will thus be enlarged, synergies will be created with research centres, NGOs, civil society and educational institutions not familiar with EU studies but whose graduates are operationally engaged in EU migration/refugee issues. Indeed, researchers and experts from various institutions, public bodies (competent Ministries, regional and local authorities, police, coastguard and the judicial system) will blend their day-to-day management experience of migratory and refugee flows with international bodies (EU Commission, FRONTEX, EPLO etc.) to study this phenomenon which has grown out of proportion in the last years.

Three seminars per academic year will be offered to students and participants

(i) The EU, Turkey and the East Mediterranean (ii) EU Refugee and Asylum Law and Policy (iii) The EU External Borders management, taking into account adult education methodologies (debating, case studies etc) as well as innovative hands-on and policy-oriented training approaches multidisciplinary synergies and openness to civil society. In addition, 3 annual workshops will be organized to promote debates and research. The expected output is to provide the participants with more in-depth analysis and policy options evaluation, thus complementing their skills and expanding the acquired knowledge. Finally, in order to maximize visibility and impact on decision-makers and the public, at large, the Centre will disseminate its results widely.