Concept Note: Immigration is a part of development politics

Questions of migrant politics should be viewed in coherence with development politics. Development politics and development cooperation can have an efficient effect on problems that cause migration, by decreasing poverty, improving standards of living and living environment, promoting health care, as well as equality and work and education opportunities.

Problems relating to migration have dominated the European discussion on immigration politics. Immigration is often seen as a threat by the European Union. At the moment one of the most visible discussions in the area of migration are smuggling of humans and the treatment of migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe. The discussion reveals how difficult it is to combine development and migration politics, for example, in the Mediterranean area, where African and European migration policies collide. African and European migration policies collide in the Mediterranean area

Armed conflicts, extreme poverty and diseases are the key reasons for people to migrate from Africa. In many African countries, differences of income are increasing, mean life expectancy is lowering and civilians are targeted in armed conflicts. People have lost hope for a better future.

In Africa there are almost four million refugees and many more who are forced to move because of, for example, natural catastrophes. Only in Sudan the violence has forced over six million people to leave their homes. It is, however, almost impossible for those fleeing violence and poverty to reach Europe. African and European migration policies collide at the Mediterranean. African migrants keep trying to reach Europe, taking greater risks.

Over the last decade, thousands of people, including migrants, asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking, have died attempting to reach southern Europe from North Africa. For many years the European Union has put pressure on its neighboring countries to control irregular migration. The emphasis of the policies of the EU in this respect has been on promoting stronger border controls in those countries, thereby passing to them the responsibility to help close Europe's borders. The events around Spanish towns of Ceuta and Melilla and the tragic shooting of migrants by Moroccan border guards must be seen against this background.

Those who manage to reach Europe often face harsh reality. They realize that brighter future is not waiting for them, but life as an illegal migrant or asylum seeker and that they will often be returned back to their home countries. Asylum seekers are more often detained and illegal migrants have no rights to public services or support.

A comprehensive European approach to refugee protection and irregular migration must include means by which migrants can reach the territory other than by jumping razor-wire fences or risking their lives in small boats in the Mediterranean. Migration caused by poverty and armed conflicts cannot be prevented by building walls or increasing border control measures. Root causes of migration in the countries of origin have to be dealt with in coherence of development and migration politics.