Migration has long been a defining issue for the European Union, testing its capacity to act collectively while upholding human rights and international standards. In recent years, the EU has increasingly relied on externalisation (meaning outsourcing migration control to third countries) to reduce irregular arrivals. While this approach may be effective in deterring migration, it raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and compliance with the EU’s legal and moral obligations.

In this episode of Making Sense of EU, we explore the tensions in EU migration policy with Johan Ekstedt, postdoctoral fellow at the Université libre de Bruxelles. Johan tells us about the challenges of shared competence with member states, and the rise of informal and bilateral agreements that complicate legal accountability. We also discuss the growing influence of EU agencies like Frontex, and what these trends mean for rights protection and policy effectiveness.

The discussion highlights the need for stronger legal accountability and greater transparency to build a migration policy that truly respects human rights.

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