A new project, ‘Outsourcing borders: Monitoring EU externalisation policy’ explores these questions. A bulletin to be published every two months by Statewatch and migration-control.info will analyse and compile the key documents produced and discussed by working groups in the Council of the EU.

The aim is to provide an overview of current and planned measures related to the externalization of European migration policy – and thus inform legal, campaigning and advocacy work by civil society organisations; investigations by journalists; and scrutiny by national and European MPs.

Registration for the bulletin, which is published in English and French, is possible here. 

The forthcoming reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) and the measures introduced by the Pact on Migration and Asylum make critical scrutiny of the EU´s externalisation agenda more important than ever.

However, the agenda characterized by a high degree of secrecy. Important working groups usually meet in secret and may not even produce minutes of their meetings, while the documents used to inform discussion can remain hidden from public view for months, if not years. Negotiations and projects with partner countries take place behind closed doors. At the same time, it is difficult to maintain an overview in view of the numerous parallel processes and the large number of players and countries involved.

The project, financed by Misereor, Brot für die Welt, medico international and PRO ASYL addresses these problems. The bulletin will shed light on this opaque political field and aim to create a sound basis for the work of activists, journalists, academics and NGOs.