Since the 1990s, the European Union has worked intensively with non-EU countries to discourage irregular migration and promote the return of irregular migrants. Despite years of efforts, recent research shows that migrant deterrent campaigns have little effect, and that deportations of irregular migrants are not as easy to drive up as politicians may suggest.
VUB researcher Omar Cham examined the reactions of Gambian actors to EU migration policies and revealed the inefficiencies of these policies. The Gambia, a priority partner for the EU, is often the target of migration deterrent communications and pressure to cooperate in deportations of irregular migrants. ...
