Sansad TV Perspective: Belarus Migrant Crisis

In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.

In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic: Belarus Migrant Crisis.

Anchor: Vishal Dahiya

Participants: 

1. Alwyn Didar Singh, Author & Former Civil Servant
2. Gulshan Sachdeva, Professor, Centre for European Studies, JNU

Context: 

The eastern borders of Europe have gathered enormous prominence in the present with the onset of the issue of migration. It has been reported that thousands of migrants, seemingly from the Middle East, took an attempt to enter the European countries through Belarus. Consequently, the European Commission has confirmed and ridiculed the active involvement of Belarus in assuring the migrants with a false promise of a smooth passage to the EU. This was authenticated by evidence collected by Poland and Lithuania as they intercepted the migrants and found the authorities of Belarus facilitating the border journeys. All these contributed to the emergence of tension in the eastern boundaries of Europe. This is the context of essence that requires a deeper understanding of the migrant crisis with the intervention of experts and ways to manage such a crisis.

A Brief Overview on Migration as a Concept:

• In the world of geopolitics that progresses with its changing dynamics, the concept of migration is oftentimes topical, trending and demands huge attention.
• In the language of International Relations, the issue of migration is seen as the functional unit of the international system of states.
• The mobility of people across the borders remains at the centre of policymaking, debates and regulations.
• As an instance, the Belarus migrant crisis is associated with interstate relations and it can expand its influence to bilateral and multilateral corporations in many cases.
• Therefore the concept of migration calls for a multidisciplinary approach for a better understanding. 

The EU – Belarus Relations: A Brief Background

• The EU policy on Belarus that was laid out in 2016 resulted in the dilution of restrictions, increased policy dialogue and improved financial assistance through international financial institutions like European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Board of Directors.
• The EU – Belarus partnership priorities are aimed at empowering the bilateral relationship and setting a strategic framework for cooperation. Belarus has been an active proponent of multilateralism of the Eastern Partnership Initiative.
• The Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements were enforced in 2020.
• The relationship deteriorated after the Presidential election of August 2020 conducted in Belarus which was considered unfair by the EU. As a result, the EU imposed sanctions on Belarus and introduced the New Conclusions on Belarus which weakened the bilateral relation. 
• As a bitter consequence of the sanctions imposed by the EU, the government of Belarus refrained from obeying the agreement to control the entry of illegal migrants.

Major Challenges: 

• For a long period of time, Europe has faced serious challenges because of the migrant crisis. 
• The situation turned alarming when it was alleged that the European Union will witness an increase in human trafficking and smuggling activities along with armed migration. 
• Experts put forward a blend of economic and geopolitical reasons to have contributed to such a migrant crisis. 
• It was rightly pointed out that many migrants aspire to enter the European territories in search of better job opportunities which creates a significant challenge for the European citizens. 
• The rise of right-wing political ideologies poses a considerable threat in offering a comfortable ground for illegal migrants to sustain and raises security concerns of the citizens.
• The 2021 Europol report on the Terrorism situation in the EU provided an estimate of 57 terrorist attacks in the year 2020 among which there were 10 jihadist attacks in Austria, France and Germany. Besides, there were terrorist attempts inspired by right-wing extremism in Germany, Belgium and France.

Ways to Tackle the Migrant Crisis: 

• The experts recommended that there must be a common policy of migration in Europe.
• Europe has been contradictory towards its approach to migrants with it showing a willingness to invite a deluge of skilled labour for manufacturing purposes and at the same time raising concerns about security due to the migrant crisis. This needs a balanced approach.
• The internal discontent within Europe needs to be resolved especially the tensions rising on the Polish border and controversial allegations of Russia’s involvement in the ongoing crisis made by the Polish government must be regulated. Therefore this entire issue is termed as a geopolitical crisis by the experts in the panel.
• It is envisaged that the ongoing crisis surrounding migration is unlikely to get resolved as Europe has an ageing population and it is in need of skilled labour. This makes it inevitable that there will be a migration of people. This adds to the permanent feature of globalization and business cannot perform without the mobility of people.
• India offered a solution in the form of a labour partnership that supplied part-time labourers to countries like France and Denmark. This partnership can be further encouraged and replicated in the whole of Europe.

Read more summaries of Perspective in the link.

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