A Consultation of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants by Delphine Perrin 3 October 2012

1. The Management of the External Borders of the EU and its
Impact on the Human Rights of Migrants -A Consultation of the
UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants
3 October 2012
Shifting the Criminalization of Migrants to the
Southern Side of the Mediterranean
Delphine Perrin
Delphine.perrin@eui.eu
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

2. A Global Context focusing on Migration Management
• New notions (transit migration, mixed flows), new institutions
• Palermo Protocols (2000) – To combat the Smuggling of Migrants and
Trafficking in Persons
EU’s Asylum and Immigration Policy and its External
Dimension
• Maastricht Treaty (1992) – Harmonisation
• Amsterdam Treaty (1997-1999) - Communautarisation
• Tampere Summit (1999) – Partnership with Origin and Transit Countries
• Seville Summit (2002) – Integration of immigration Policy into EU’s relations
with Third-Countries
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

3. Migration at the core of EU-Maghreb Negotiations
Euro-Mediterranean Barcelona Process (1995-)
• Combating Irregular Emigration v/ Improving Regular
Immigration conditions
Migration as a Diplomatic Tool
• In Bilateral Relations between Neighbouring states
• In EU-Maghreb Relations
Progressive Contribution of Maghreb Countries in European
Border Control
• Liaison Officers, Joint Patrols, Readmission
• Containment, Management, Protection
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

4. Shifting Border Control and Migration Management
Shifting the Criminalisation?
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

5. Legislative Activity in the Maghreb
Regulations Latest Reforms
Morocco Law 02-03 of 11/11/2003 on the Entry and Stay of Foreign Nationals
into the Kingdom of Morocco, on Irregular Emigration and Immigration
Tunisia Law 2004-06 of 3/02/2004 modifying Law 1975-40 to organize
Repression of Irregular Entry and Exit
Libya Law 2 of 2004 amending Law 6 of 1987; Decree 125 of 2005 amending
its implementation;
Law 19 of 2010 to combat Irregular Migration
Algeria Law 88-11 of 25/06/2008 on the Conditions of Entry, stay and
Movement of Foreign Nationals;
Law 09-01 of 25/02/2009 modifying the Penal Code
Mauritania Law 025-2003 repressing the Trafficking of Human Beings, 17/07/2003.
Reform of the Immigration Regime and Refugee Law in discussion since
2008.
Law 2010-021 relating to combating the smuggling of migrants,
10/02/2010.
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

6. A Repressive Orientation
Claimed Priorities:
-Sanctioning the Smuggling of Migrants,
-Deterring Irregular Transit Migration,
-Managing Migration, Rationalising its legal Framework.
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

7. Content: Following a Common Trend
• Extending and Raising Penal and Administrative
Sanctions against Immigrants,
• Detaining Immigrants,
• Introducing new Offences (e.g. marriage of convenience,
smuggling),
• Strengthening Sanctions against Assistance to Irregular
Migration (incl. through the ‘solidarity offence’).
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

8. A Specific Process of Criminalization
Due to the Maghrebian Situation
-Reducing the Scope of Regularity in a Context favouring
Mobility,
-Turning Informality into Irregularity in a Context of intense
Informality,
-Applying Sanctions, a novelty.
An arbitrary Impact on Foreign Nationals
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

9. A specific Process of Criminalization
Due to the Maghrebian Zeal
-Combining Sanctions against (non profitable) Assistance to
Irregular Migration and Sanctions against (profitable)
Smuggling,
-Interpreting extensively the Assistance to Irregular Migration,
-Penalising the Illegal Exit of Nationals and Foreign Nationals
from the Territory,
-With no Protective Steps.
An arbitrary Impact on National Citizens
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

10. Is it sustainable to support such policies?
Questioning the Migratory Conditionality
for Cooperation
• Securitarian Approach
-Criminalising Migration, Fostering Organised Criminality
-Creating “Invasion” and “Mass Migration”
Human Insecurity, State Disorder
• Cooperation of Authoritarian States
-Supporting Non-Democratic Regimes
-Legitimizing Right Deprivation and Social Repression
Social Discontent, EU’s Lost of Credibility
• Hindering Mobility
-Opposing Individual Practices
-Opposing Regional Agreements
Opposing Development Needs
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC

11. What if…
• An Impact of the socio-political changes in the
Maghreb on Migration Policies
Democratic regimes, power balance, unsteady governments,
violences in Libya, economic difficulties…
• An Impact of maintaining the same migration policies
on the socio-political situation in the Maghreb
Legitimizing further rights deprivation, social repression,
perpetuating people’s frustration…
Delphine Perrin
www.migrationpolicycentre.eu MPC