Global Europe and cooperation for deterrence: instrumentalization of development cooperation for migration control
Abstract
This article analyzes the transformation of European Union development cooperation toward what we call "deterrence cooperation," through the analysis of 221 projects funded by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe (NDICI) between 2021-2024 with €9.714 billion allocated to migration and forced displacement. Through detailed examination of four specific cases in Turkey, North Africa and West Africa (€835 million), the research reveals that resources officially designated for development are employed in border control activities, security agent training, surveillance equipment, detention centers, and return mechanisms, configuring "hard deterrence" and "soft deterrence" strategies to intercept irregular transit to Europe. The results show how the EU externalizes its migration control to third countries like Turkey, Libya and Tunisia, instrumentalizing development cooperation to export its migration agenda, which erodes the legitimacy of European aid and transforms solidarity-based cooperation into a geopolitical tool that prioritizes European interests over human development objectives.
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