The use of human beings in need to further political goals violates fundamental European values and principles

The instrumentalisation of migration: political weapon and cause of humanitarian crises

photo_camera AFP/WOJTEK RADWANSKI - Members of a Kurdish family from Dohuk, Iraq, in a forest near the border between Poland and Belarus as they wait for the border guard patrol, near Narewka, Poland, 9 November 2021.

"We have nothing to explain to them, because they know perfectly well what they are doing. They are using migrants as an instrument, aided by a total disinformation campaign, to increase the pressure on our borders and create a humanitarian crisis", Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. 

A humanitarian crisis is a widespread emergency situation affecting an entire community or group of people in a region, involving high levels of mortality or malnutrition, the spread of disease, epidemics and health emergencies. In general, this situation derives from the lack of protection in parts of the world that already suffer from continuing inequality, poverty and lack of basic services; and a trigger that makes things worse: political events such as armed conflicts, coups, ethnic and religious persecution, and environmental catastrophes

When the situation deteriorates due to the country's difficulty in coping with the consequences of these events, humanitarian aid is essential to meet the needs of vulnerable people. Whether it is food, medical care, or reconstruction of infrastructure, reducing the number of victims to end the crisis and initiate a period of development cooperation activity. 

crisis migratoria polonia bielorrusia

Because of this situation, thousands of people are forced to flee these appalling conditions in order to survive and continue a dignified life in another country. On the other hand, in recent years we have seen an increase in mass migrations which, although they correspond to the causes mentioned above, are promoted by state actors with blackmailing and political objectives, especially in the European Union space. 

While most of these migrants involved in the conflict between Belarus and Poland are forced to flee wars and dire living conditions in their countries of origin (Africa and the Middle East), they have become pawns in a game between Poland and Belarus. Many are lured by Belarusian travel agencies, controlled by Alexander Lukashenko's authoritarian government, which organise trips from the Middle East to Minsk promising passage to the EU1

Migration as a tactic in hybrid warfare 

The use of human beings in need to further political goals violates fundamental European values and principles.  

Under international law, refugees, who are forced to move solely because of wars and hostilities in their home countries, are eligible for protection exclusively from neighbouring states. Thus, the mass entry of migrants into the EU (Turkey, Algeria, etc.) is considered illegal, as their status cannot be considered as migrants or refugees, given that the EU does not border any war zones. 

crisis migratoria polonia bielorrusia

This alarming peripheral trend is considered extremely important for Europe's security environment and for the defence of its borders. As the influx of migrants increases exponentially, they pose a hybrid threat, which is considered to be an 'action carried out by state or non-state actors, with the aim of undermining or harming the opponent by influencing his decision-making at the local, regional, state or institutional level'

The instrumentalisation of migration or the use of human beings by some countries with the aim of pressuring or destabilising other states, in this case the European Union, is a fairly recurrent tactic, as it does not involve an open threat or declaration of war. It is therefore used with the aim of getting away with it, avoiding large-scale consequences such as conflict or outright war

EU action on the migration threat at its borders 

The EU accuses the Lukashenko regime of waging a 'hybrid war' for months now, which has resulted in thousands of irregular migrants entering the EU via Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, many of Iraqi origin2

crisis migratoria polonia bielorrusia

Belarus' use of mass migration against the EU by threatening its borders in order to destabilise its policies and rule of law comes as no surprise. This is not the first time that this border has experienced a tense situation caused by the irregular transit of migrants.  

As recently as the summer of 2021, a similar case occurred. Lithuania reported an increase in illegal border crossings and blamed the Belarusian government for the entry of several hundred migrants into Lithuania. As a result, the EU border agency Frontex sent additional staff to help stem the tide.  

Brussels accused Minsk of allowing this to happen. President Alexander Lukashenko had openly threatened to allow refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East to enter the bloc in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the EU over human rights violations and violent repression of civil society3.  

crisis migratoria polonia bielorrusia

"The instrumentalisation of migrants and refugees is absolutely unacceptable", the EU has said. In line with its gradual approach, the EU will consider restrictive measures targeting migrant smugglers who abuse human rights or those involved in human trafficking. 

The EU and its member states condemn the instrumentalisation of migrants and refugees by the Belarusian regime, addressing the current increase in irregular crossings into the EU from Belarus to preserve the integrity of its external border.  

Determined to effectively manage migration flows to protect the EU's external borders, its member states in solidarity have already stepped up their support to this problem, including through the deployment of FRONTEX and additional technical assistance, and stand ready to strengthen it further, rapidly providing the necessary support to ensure the immediate deployment of relevant equipment and assets.  

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"We will continue to implement our external migration policy. We will work to further strengthen EU return capacities as part of a comprehensive approach, including through dialogues and partnerships with countries of origin and transit," announced the Council of the European Union. The EU candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and Georgia aligned themselves with this declaration.  

Three months on, this new crisis where Minsk is pushing migrants into European territory has been described by Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as "humanitarian, migratory and geopolitical", and he has called for the mobilisation of all European resources to address the situation. 

REFERENCES

1 Miles de Migrantes Atrapados y Maltratados Entre La Fronteras de Bielorrusia y Polonia https://www.eldiario.es/desalambre/miles-migrantes-atrapados-maltratados-fronteras-bielorrusia-polonia_1_8469414.html 

2 Putin y Lukashenko Abordan La Crisis Migratoria En Las Fronteras Con La UE https://www.efe.com/efe/espana/mundo/putin-y-lukashenko-abordan-la-crisis-migratoria-en-las-fronteras-con-ue/10001-4671325 

3 EU Summons Belarus Envoy over ′instrumentalization′ of Migrants https://www.dw.com/en/eu-summons-belarus-envoy-over-instrumentalization-of-migrants/a-58773302  

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