Security in the Periphery of the EU : - The European enclaves Ceuta and Melilla

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to describe how the EU relates to its territorial enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla located within Morocco. As this study is based on the theoretical foundations of the Copenhagen School it has focused on how the EU relates to its enclaves in terms of security. More specifically its aim was to uncover if a securitization of the enclaves had been initiated by the EU, the nature of the process and whether the securitization has been successful. The area of threat was recognized as immigration or specifically illegal immigration through the enclaves. The study was conducted using a qualitative text analysis, the Anglo-Saxon direction of discourse analysis found in the writings of Chantal Mouffe and Ernesto Laclau. The material consisted of EU official documents relating to the enclaves. The discourse analysis was conducted by the deconstruction of the discourse using concepts like nodal points, floating signifiers and the search for temporary closure of discourse. The analysis uncovered the securitizing move, the referent object and an audience acceptance of the threat. This has led to the legitimization of unconventional measures and the realization of the securitization of the enclaves.