Implementing EU Mobility Partnerships: Putting Soft Law into Practice

Mobility Partnerships between the EU and third countries are based on asymmetric power relations, with development aid, trade relations, and visa policies tied to migration control. This book argues that three main factors determine their relevance: state of relations, negotiation power, and administrative capacity. It combines a comparative legal analysis with an empirical study of Mobility Partnerships projects in Morocco and Cape Verde, demonstrating their legal and policy relevance for regulating migration, asylum, human trafficking, and labor law. The book is a valuable resource for academics, students, policy-makers, international organization representatives, and NGOs.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive assessment delves into the effectiveness of Mobility Partnerships and their far-reaching consequences for third countries. Typically perceived as reflecting asymmetric power relations, these partnerships entail the provision of development aid, trade relations, and visa policies contingent upon third countries' cooperation in implementing an EU agenda focused on migration control. However, this book challenges that notion by arguing that three fundamental factors shape the relevance of Mobility Partnerships: the state of relations between EU Member States and a third country, particularly the significance of postcolonial ties; the power of negotiation held by a third country, influenced by its geopolitical importance to the EU; and its administrative capacity, which encompasses the ability of a state to formulate and implement policies, legislate, and enforce the law.

To substantiate these arguments, the work combines a comparative legal analysis of the development of legal and policy frameworks in the cases of Morocco and Cape Verde with an empirical study of the implementation of Mobility Partnerships projects. Through this comprehensive approach, the analysis reveals that Mobility Partnerships, despite their non-binding nature, hold significant legal and policy relevance for these third countries in regulating migration, asylum, human trafficking, and even labor law. This book thus contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between the interests of the EU, Member States, and third country actors in the implementation of Mobility Partnerships.

With its extensive coverage and insightful analysis, this book is a valuable resource for academics and students specializing in Migration Law, EU Studies, Geopolitics, and African Studies. The empirical approach employed will also appeal to policy-makers, international organization representatives, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) seeking to understand the complexities and implications of Mobility Partnerships in the global context.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367493530