THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS and the EUROPEAN UNION CONDITIONALITY

Abstract

The aim of this study is to advocate the idea that the European Union (EU) should develop a new refugee policy which is appropriate to human security and impose this policy under the conditionality principle to the countries which are engaged to EU by negotiating, candidacy or Stability and Association Aggrements (SAAs). Especially with the start of the civil war in Syria, the situation that EU could not manage the refugee crisis that firstly Turkey and then the Western Balkan countries faced, caused serious political crises. In particular, Turkey and Macedonia were the most affected countries within all the candidates. Moreover the refugee crisis has created a serious discussion within EU members, besides the existing fault lines, the impact of the crisis was influentially connected to the Brexit demand in UK, and then the future expectations of EU. The basic claim of the paper is, the discussion about the refugee issues will create a need for a transformation in EU's security strategy. One may suggest that EU firstly should determine a wider common policy on refugees, secondly under the conditionality principle, EU should develop her acquis towards candidate countries compatible with the new common refugee policy.

Özet

The aim of this study is to advocate the idea that the European Union (EU) shoulddevelop a new refugee policy which is appropriate to human security and impose this policyunder the conditionality principle to the countries which are engaged to the EU by negotiating,candidacy or Stability and Association Agreements (SAAs). Especially with the start of the civilwar in Syria, the situation that EU could not manage the refugee crisis that firstly Turkey andthen the Western Balkan countries faced, caused serious political crises. In particular, Turkeyand Macedonia were the most affected countries within all the candidates. Moreover therefugee crisis has created a serious discussion within EU members, besides the existing faultlines, the impact of the crisis was influentially connected to the Brexit demand in UK, and thenthe future expectations of the EU. The basic claim of the paper is, the discussion about therefugee issues will create a need for a transformation in the EU's security strategy. One maysuggest that the EU firstly should determine a wider common policy on refugees, secondlyunder the conditionality principle, the EU should develop her acquis towards candidatecountries compatible with the new Common European Asylum System.