The effects of European Union illegal immigration policies on the candidate countries
Creators: name: Ciris, Kazim
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2016

description: Fighting against illegal immigration consumes a country’s financial sources which may lead to economic crisis; not fighting against illegal immigration, on the other hand, causes the emergence of identity and social fears. In other words, the struggle against illegal immigration not only costs a lot, but also poses risk in political terms to the countries that are involved in this process. Consequently, the illegal immigration policies could have the potential of ending in deadlock and becoming the reason of conflict between the related countries.   This study examines the nature of relationship between the EU and Turkey in terms of illegal immigration policies. It also investigates to what extent Turkey carries out its responsibilities to the EU regarding the fight against illegal immigration. This study also examines whether or not the EU is rightful about its allegations against Turkey on the issue of illegal immigration.  This study uses the following mixed method: The Content Analysis and Candidate Countries’ Eurobarometers (CCEB) Surveys. The data used in content analysis are obtained from the EU Reports and Turkish Adaptation to Acquis Documents. The statements in the documents were coded on the basis of Turkey’s progression status with a special focus on the topics. Another method used in the study is the CCEB Surveys obtained from the website of Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). These surveys were conducted in 2006 and 2007 in the EU member countries and candidate countries. The sample size of each survey was around 30.000.   According to the results of the content analysis, Turkey made adequate progress in the following two fields: Fighting against illegal immigration and human trafficking. Turkey made no progress in repealing the geographical limitation. Turkey makes limited or inadequate progress in nine fields including signing and ratifying readmission agreement, handling asylum-seekers and refugees, developing training programs, setting up and improving the reception and removal centers, setting up a migration and asylum authority, alignment to external border policy and Schengen Agreement, setting up an integrated border management unit, setting up a unified and professional border guard and aligning to the EU Visa Policy. These inadequate progresses show that Turkish policy on illegal immigration is fluctuated and reluctant.  According to the results of the Logistic Regression Analysis, the citizens of destination countries give almost three times higher priority on illegal immigration than the citizens of non-destination countries. Turkish citizens thinks that the EU should take collective responsibility on immigration policies, otherwise, they see the immigration as a risk for future integration to the EU. Turkish citizens are also less likely to support the joint EU efforts and they perceive immigration issues significantly less important than the citizens of destination countries. On the other hand, Turkey do not completely ignore the importance of fighting against illegal immigration. The citizens of non-destination countries are more likely to think that the EU should take further joint-responsibility on immigration issues. In fact, the perception of importance of illegal immigration and perceived risks for integration confirm that the citizens of non-destination countries regard the immigration issue as a responsibility of the EU.  In conclusion, Turkey purposefully fights against illegal immigration in a limited way as it costs a lot and politically risky. Although illegal immigration is the problem of destination countries (Core EU countries), non-destination countries support destination countries on their fight against illegal immigration as well. Turkey prioritizes the problem but seems to be reluctant to take necessary actions. The EU and Turkey are in deadlock in terms of negotiations for fighting against illegal immigration in a full-fledged way.