New Trends in the External Dimension of EU Migration and Asylum Policy

The article analyses the external dimension as the main element of the EU migration and asylum policy in the medium term. Following the explanation of the term, its tools are explored, with an emphasis on new legislation files within the framework of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, as well as informal agreements with countries of migrants’ origin and transit. The author examines the Pact’s pillars, implementation of which started with a new political cycle after European Parliament elections and appointment of the new European Commission team. A special place is given to externalization of the asylum procedure, which was first stated in the European People’s Party’s election Manifesto and actively supported by the European Commission President. The author identifies distinctions between the “Albanian” and “Rwandan” versions of externalization, and presents a somewhat different initiative of the “return hubs” for asylum seekers, which was finally adopted by the EU institutions. The analysis of new legislation files within the framework of the Pact, as well as of its implementation practice, allows to identify new trends in the external dimension: promotion of “return hubs” as an example of migration policy externalization; the choice of informal agreements with the countries of migrants’ origin and transit as the main instrument of external governance, which demonstrates strengthening of the EU migration and foreign policy nexus; cutback of international standards of protection and disregard for the asylum seekers’ rights. The latter topic seems important in the light of critical approach by human rights organisations and experts.