Background
Migration management is one of the most current and complex areas of contemporary social sciences and public policies, especially in the context of the European Union and the Republic of Croatia. Previous research in Croatia has mainly focused on the philosophical and political aspects of migration policy, especially on issues of state sovereignty and human rights.
However, such an approach covers only part of the complex phenomenon of migration.
What is migration governance
Migration governance includes not only migration policies that focus on visible results, but also elements related to decision-making processes and their implementation.
Migration governance consists of three key elements:
Norms and rules
Which can be binding or non-binding at different levels — supranational, national, subnational.
Actors and institutional mechanisms
The actors and institutional mechanisms that shape and carry out migration governance.
Decision-making and governance processes
Formal and informal decision-making and governance processes, which take place at different governance levels.
Categories of migration
Different categories of migration — labour (highly skilled, low-skilled, temporary), family, study, refugee status and international protection, and illegal migration — are regulated in different ways and involve different actors and institutions, further complicating governance. Policies range from integration measures to facilitating access to the labour market.
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to comprehensively review and improve migration management in the Republic of Croatia and the European Union through an interdisciplinary approach. The research will encompass legal, sociological, political, philological, security and communication-information aspects, in order to understand all important segments of migration management.
Justification
The justification of the research stems from the evident challenges in migration management in Croatia, which is confirmed by media reports that indicate problems with the integration of migrants, the protection of human rights, the implementation of policies and social inclusion.
Increasing migration trends in the EU and Croatia, which are confirmed by statistical data (e.g. an increase in the number of asylum seekers, migrants on the labor market, illegal border crossings), further highlight the need for more effective and sustainable migration policies aligned with the EU acquis.
Methodology
The methodological approach includes:
Review and analysis of scientific and professional literature, as well as relevant legal sources and practice of national and supranational courts (Court of the EU, European Court of Human Rights).
Analysis of primary and secondary data (statistical data, case studies, interviews with key stakeholders, focus groups).
Hermeneutic approach to interpreting legal and social documents.
Comparative approach for the analysis of legislative and institutional solutions in Croatia and other EU members.
Thematic and discourse analysis to understand migration management narratives and practices.
Elaboration of proposals and recommendations through synthesis of the obtained data.