'Fortress Europe' and the vilification of refugees

Abstract

The migratory flow of migrants in search for a better life has intensified in the recent years and has become a topic of debate around the world, therefore, such study is paramount. Migration is not a new phenomenon and the sea is the most used route in the search for a better life or for the protection from persecution or other threats to life. With a special focus on the European Union, due to the increasing number of shipwrecks, disappearances, and deaths, this study will examine the maritime operations in the Mediterranean Sea as well as demonstrate several human rights violations towards refugees. The protection of refugees is subjected to different migration policies with respect to domestic law, concerning international protection, there are several treaties dealing with the topic. Nevertheless, the lack of a united European framework in relation to the theme, make the political solutions more difficult to solve. Thus, this study aims to verify whether the concept of securitisation coincides with the treatment received by refugees in Europe, conducting a study of refugee rights and making critical analysis of European border control.