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
To address the research question, both an independent and dependent variable will be used. The independent variable will be, “Economic and political instability in countries of origin.” The variable is independent because it is not affected by the outcome of the situation under investigation, but rather influences the dependent variable. The dependent variable is ‘high rate of irregular migrants entering the EU through Cyprus.” The dependent variable is influenced by the outlined independent variable.
The high rate of irregular migrants entering the EU through Cyprus is a source of concern. But how did Cyprus find itself in such a situation? Trimikliniotis (2022) demonstrates that the biggest change to Cyprus as a migrants’ destination occurred in 2004 when the country became the EU member. Before 2004, the author indicates that the asylum system was underdeveloped with less than 500 people have got refugee status. However, after the EU ascension, Cyprus experienced a sharp rise in the number of applicants, almost 10,000 per year. A majority of migrants to Cyprus enter via the “Green Line” after they have crossed Turkey. Experts agree that irregular migration is overwhelming Cyprus (Düvell and Vollmer, 2009). In an article appearing on Reuters in 2021, Cyprus complained about the number of irregular migrants into the country, indicating the need to curb them. A government official went ahead to indicate the need for the government to suspend asylum applications for individuals entering the country illegally (Kambas, 2021).
At the time, the Cypriot government maintained that the number of irregular migrants exceeded 4% of the population; a figure activist group said was misleading. An Amnesty International (2012) report examines the deficiencies of the Cypriot government in bringing its legislation on migrants in line with international standards. The report titled, “Punishment without a crime: Detention of migrants and asylum-seekers in Cyprus” indicates that detention should not be utilized as a tool for regulating migration. The report demonstrates that Cyprus violates International and EU law when it detains irregular migrants without taking other alternative measures. Further, the report stipulates that the Cypriot government has not demonstrated that the detention of irregular migrants is necessary.
There are reasons why the EU is concerned about the influx of migrants to the region through Cyprus. Refugees create social and economic benefits. Reitano (2015) demonstrates that the large influx of irregular migrants to Cyprus creates a huge burden on the nation’s economy. Since irregular migrants cannot work, they result in low-paying and informal jobs, which drive the wages down and deteriorate working conditions. With the exploitation of migrants, the social cohesion of the country is jeopardized. At the same time, the EU is bound by international and regional human rights laws on refugees that demonstrate the need for states to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers (Lambert, 2009). The EU should ensure that irregular migrants receive fair treatment. However, the influx of migrants into Cyprus has made it challenging for the nation to comply with its legal obligations. This has damaged the reputation of the EU in general. At the same time, irregular migrants cause security concerns. For instance, some terrorists organized criminal groups; smugglers gangs, etc… can take advantage of the situation to engage in criminal activities. Some of the irregular migrants may have extremist backgrounds, which threatens the security of Cyprus and the entire EU (Miller and Baumeister, 2013).
Despite these concerns, Clare and Martin (2022) note that irregular migrants should be allowed into the EU since they present various economic benefits. The authors argue that Europe needs to go beyond the costs and negative implications of irregular migrants and see the economic benefits they present to the region. Triandafyllidou and Bartolini (2020) agree that irregular migrants are always ready to take on low-paying jobs, which are critical for the functioning of the economy. For instance, there are opportunities in the agriculture and construction sectors, but a majority of the locals are not willing to take them. Irregular migrants take on these low-paying jobs and allow the economy to function. At the same time, irregular migrants can pay taxes and other obligations, hence contributing to the growth of the EU economies (Clare and Martin, 2022). Additionally, Hugo (2005) claims that irregular migrants enrich the cultural diversity of the host countries. Irregular immigrants bring with them the customs and traditions of their countries of origin. With such diversity, a region can easily work towards greater tolerance and understanding. Migrants are instrumental in enriching the culture of the EU and contributing to its vibrancy. At the same time, demonstrates the need to consider humanitarian aspects when dealing with irregular migrants (Dumont and Scarpetta, 2015). The researchers demonstrate that some of the irregular migrants leave their home countries because of escalating conflict and persecution. Even where irregular migrants are a burden to the EU’s economy, the author believes that offering protection and support to them is a moral obligation. Irregular migrants are humans and have dignity and human rights.
Approaching the issue of irregular migration is challenging considering the opposing views. Researchers and policymakers have different goals when it comes to the issue. For instance, while researchers are concerned about understanding the causes of irregular migration, policymakers could be more focused on finding practical solutions to regulate the flow of migrants. The issue becomes more complex considering the different perspectives that people have on irregular migrants. For instance, some may prioritize national security when they see migrants as a threat, while others may be more focused on human humanitarian causes (Estevens, 2018). Moreover, political pressures play a major role in determining the direction that policymakers and other key stakeholders take concerning migrants. Pressure from political parties, media coverage, and public opinion influences the policies that are meant to address the issue (Dennison, 2019). Due to the sharp debates that emerge when the issue of dealing with irregular immigrants emerges, finding a common ground has remained a major issue.
The menace of irregular migrants has problem sharp debates in the academic field with different researchers proposing different ways of addressing the issue. Some call for the strengthening of border management. Such authors cite the need to ensure that EU member countries have strong borders to prevent irregular migrants from reaching the region in the first place (Miller and Baum, 2013). In this regard, the EU is required to invest in acquiring the appropriate technology and personnel and then collaborate with other countries to enforce the same. Such measures are seen as critical in ensuring that irregular migrants do not gain access to the EU and cause problems. Additionally, other researchers believe that tackling the problem of smugglers and traffickers will solve the problem (Malakooti, 2020). Proponents of this approach believe that disrupting the networks used to smuggle irregular immigrants into the EU would be a major step in reducing the incentive for migrants to leave their home country. Moreover, one of the most prominent suggestions for dealing with the problem is for the EU to invest in the countries of origin of the irregular immigrants to ensure that they do not need to come to the EU in the first place (Kancs and Lecca, 2018).
Researchers differ on the impact of the EU investing in the country of origin to reduce the problem of irregular migration. Proponents of the initiative believe that investing in the country of origin can be an effective strategy for addressing the root cause of the problem. Irregular immigrants move to the EU seeking better economic opportunities that are not available in their home countries (Kuschminder, De Bresser, and Siegel, 2015). The inability to secure opportunities pushes migrants to leave their countries of origin in the hope of securing greener pastures abroad. Aiyar et al. (2017) argue that due to the economic prosperity of the EU, irregular migrants find it a lucrative region. Investment in the countries where irregular migrants come from can assist in reducing the push factors that drive individuals to migrate irregularly (Browne, 2015). By way of addressing economic challenges, the EU can constitute a long-term reduction in irregular migrant flows. Moreover, supporters of investing in the country of origin demonstrate that the mov...