Is Libya doing the EU’s job? : Externalisation of border control and migration management

Abstract: The irregular migration over the Mediterranean Sea has become a priority on the political agenda in recent years. This paper examines whether the attempts of managing the irregular migration have constituted a process of externalisation of border control and/or migration management in the context of Italy and Libya. Specifically, a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the countries in February 2017 has been studied to determine if it can be understood as an example of externalisation. The Memorandum has been assessed using three criteria for externalisation, as identified by Paoletti (2011), as well as a model for categorising measures into ‘fencing’ or ‘gatekeeping’ strategies, presented by Triandafyllidou and Dimitriadi (2013). Additionally, a critical geopolitical perspective has been applied, aiming at identifying the Memorandum’s geopolitical implications. An examination of studies on previous agreements demonstrates that a process of externalisation has been occurring, and the analysis of the Memorandum indicates that the agreement can be understood as a part of this process. Furthermore, a number of geopolitical implications have been identified in the Memorandum, regarding power, sovereignty, borders and securitisation. Since there is no universal definition of what measures are considered to constitute externalisation, any assessments made are arguably subjective.