Research project
Migration and Development: Sharing knowledge between Norway and Poland
There is a widespread perception that development is the best way to stop mass migration from Global South to Europe. Yet the relationship between the two is more complex – rising incomes and growing economies can both hamper as well as facilitate emigration from developing countries.
Increased economic growth can lead to less migration, but not in isolation from broader development processes, including legitimate and transparent institutions and credible democratization that increases citizens’ trust in their states and their own long-term well-being. This means we need to better understand this relationship to design and implement development cooperation policy that address real root causes of migration in weak and fragile states.
Norway is an experienced donor with hard-learned lessons on the impact of development assistance, including how it may affect migration patterns. Poland is an interesting case study in itself as it undergoes transformation from emigration to immigration country. Poland is also expanding its development cooperation policy to focus more on root causes of migration in Africa and Middle East. This gives the two countries an excellent opportunity to share their experiences and develop more effective responses to challenges in EU neighborhood.
Project Manager
Participants
Articles
New project examines root causes of migration in Africa and the Middle East
What is the relationship between migration and development?
New publications
Can Aid Solve the Root Causes of Migration? A Framework for Future Research on the Development-Migration Nexus
An important dimension of the European Union’s response to the 2015 refugee and migration management crisis has been to address the root causes of irregular migration. A major tool the EU has to mitigate push factors of migration is development assistance. Yet, the literature shows that the casual relationship between aid and migration is complex and far from obvious. This article summarises the ongoing debates and major findings concerning the development-migration nexus in order to better inform policymakers about the potential risks and shortcomings of using aid in migration management. It suggests a framework for future research on what kind of assistance might work, for whom, and where.
Much Ado About Very Little? Migration-Linked Development Assistance — the Cases of Poland and Norway
In response to the migration management crisis that peaked in Europe in 2015-2016, the EU institutions and some European states promised to address the “root causes of migration”, with development assistance seen as an important tool in that respect. By comparing the development cooperation policies of Poland and Norway, this paper shows how the development-migration nexus has been implemented in practice by new and traditional donors alike. Despite important differences at the rhetorical level, neither state has substantially changed their development cooperation to link it directly to migration interests. This demonstrates the limited usefulness of the “root causes of migration” approach.
The External Dimension of EU Migration Management: The Role of Aid
Aid is seen as a key EU instrument in addressing the root causes of migration, but it has not been decisive for the drastic reduction of irregular arrivals in Europe in recent years. Nevertheless, development assistance has become crucial leverage for the EU in persuading major transit countries to improve their border control. Although this “externalisation” of EU border management seems like a successful approach for now, it is not sustainable in the long term. The Union still needs to find better synergy between migration management and development policy that is not designed to stop migration but to manage and regulate it in a more mutually beneficial way.