Claiming for Moral Superiority while Bargaining with Mobility: Turkey-EU Migration Diplomacy in the post-2016 Euro-Mediterranean space

Abstract

The article investigates the revitalization of the EU-Turkey migration diplomacy in the light of the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement. The Statement, which was aimed at stemming irregular migrations directed to the EU, contributed to strengthen the image of Turkey as a champion in hosting Syrian refugees and a trusted gatekeeper tasked with the control of the EU external borders. How has the management of a humanitarian crisis and massive migration flows affected post 2016 Turkey-EU migration diplomacy? The article contends that Turkey’s claim for moral superiority on the management of refugees despite the material weakness vis-à-vis the West has been employed to galvanize a coercive migration diplomacy and redefine Turkish approach to the EU migration regime.

Keywords: Migration Diplomacy, Turkey, EU migration regime, Syrian refugees, transit migration