"Security for whom" was the central topic at the conference on "The Security-Migration Nexus: Challenges and Opportunities of African Migration to EU Countries," which was attended by over 100 participants. The conference took place in Bonn from February 22-23 and was organized by the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC). Security in relation to migration was considered to encompass 'traditional' security perceptions ranging from security for the countries of origin and residence to the concept of "human security", which focuses on sustainable security of the individual. During the conference the concept of security was also discussed with regard to the causes and impacts of migration.

The potential increase in environmentally-induced migration was only touched upon fleetingly. It has been identified by Steffen Angenendt (German Institute for International and Security Affairs) as one of six migration trends, although this finding still needs empirical backing. It is this lack of supporting data and methods of measurement that led to cautious conclusions and statements about the rise in environmentally-induced migration. Tamer Afifi (UN University) faces the same problem. He is working on a case study on Niger under the EU Commission project on Environmental Change and Forced Migration Scenarios (EACH-FOR). One of the study's interim observations is that economic migration in Niger is caused by environmental factors.

Apart from the question whether migration can be conclusively traced back to environmental or economic factors, one point that was repeatedly emphasized during the conference was that people who cross national boundaries do not necessarily pose a security threat. Rather, the (mis)management of migration can result in security problems. To prevent this – and there was unanimity among the participants on this issue – it would be necessary to enhance ongoing interaction between all stakeholders from academia, politics and civil society in the countries of origin and residence. (Meike Westerkamp)

Further information on the conference can be accessed here

http://www.bicc.de/events/mig_conf/content.php

 

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, April 2008