Effectiveness of European Union Investing in the Country of Origin to Reduce Irregular Migration

Irregular Migration
By (Student Name)
Institutional
Date
The Effectiveness of the European Union Investing in the Country of Origin to Reduce Irregular Migration: A Case Study on the Republic of Cyprus
Introduction
The world has become a global village due to the advancement in technology. Events happening in one part of the globe have a major effect on another part of the same. One such event is irregular migration, which has become problematic for many nations, particularly the European Union (EU). To address the issue, the EU utilizes border externalization tactics to keep migrants out by engaging in bilateral agreements with other states (Stock, Üstübici, and Schultz, 2019). Here, it pays millions of euros to particular states to create obstacles aimed at controlling irregular obstacles. However, such measures have proved to be ineffective. Instead of the border externalization tactics, the EU could invest the money in the country of origin of the irregular immigrants. The aim will be to offer economic stability and security to the countries of origin, dissuading the irregular immigrants to voluntarily return to their home countries while ensuring that Koreans do not come to the EU. The Republic of Cyprus has been selected as a case study to evaluate the effectiveness of the EU’s investment because of its long history of being a destination for migrants from different countries over the years. However, the recent increase in the number of irregular migrants creates the necessity for a more comprehensive solution.
Review of Literature
An irregular migrant is someone who crosses a border without proper authority or violates the conditions for entering another nation. Someone can enter a country without proper documentation and hence be considered irregular (Kuschminder, Bresser and Siegel
2015). However, the same migrant can later acquire regularization, making their stay to be not regular. It is important to note that a migrant can regularly enter, for instance, with a visa, and overstay the visa, hence becoming irregular.
The economy's recovery from 2016 has made Cyprus a more attractive destination for migrants. Irregular migrants seeking better economic opportunities in other countries have found Cyprus a suitable destination. In addition, the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have caused a dramatic increase in political asylum seekers and refugees. The EU’s report on migration and asylum demonstrated that Cyprus witnessed a 122% increase 2021 in the number of irregular arrivals in the seven months of 2022 (European Commission, 2022). The report further demonstrates that irregular arrivals on the eastern Mediterranean route more than doubled in 2022 compared to 2021, forcing Cyprus to account for about 60% of arrivals along the way.
The EU has been stepping in to support member countries affected by the influx of irregular migrants. Over the years, it has increased border securitization and established what De Haas and Czaikacall (2013) call a “Fortress Europe.” However, the problem has worsened as more irregular migrants arrive. Researchers disagree on the most effective mode of addressing the issue. Some demonstrate the importance of the EU member states stepping in in the cost-sharing and coordination to address the issue (Orrenius and Zavodny, 2016). Instead of leaving the problem to single countries like Cyprus, the EU member countries should share the burden equally.
Kuschminder, Bresser, and Siegel (2015) examin...