1 Mapping Refugees‘ Arrivals at Mediterranean Borders (MAREM) International Workshop Spain, Add your own unique photo and information FAKULTÄT FÜR SOZIALWISSENSCHAFT Empiriemodul/Optionalbereich Lehrstuhl für Soziologie, Organisation, Migration, Mitbestimmung (SOZOMM)
2 Table of Contents Introduction Research Questions Hypotheses DataResults Conclusions
3 Introduction - Country ProfilePopulation: 46,071,420 Area: 504,645 km² EU-Membership: 1986 Unemployment rate: 20,5%1 Capital: Madrid Unique facts: Exclaves in Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla), Canary Islands located in the African Continent, new elections on the 26th of June 2016, Partido Popular is the first party but no coalition yet1 Source: Google Maps 1https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/26/second-general-election-looks-set-to-leave-spain-divided,
4 Introduction- Profile of Asylum SystemSource:
5 Introduction- Current SituationAsylum Applications 2015 14,780 2 Asylum Application/1,000 Inhabitants 0,32 Protection Rate (2015) 24,7% 2 Sea Arrivals 2015 Other Arrivals Total Arrivals 4,230 3 9,450 3 13,680 3 Main Countries of Origin (2015) Syria (5.724) 2 Ukraine (3.420) 2 Palestine (809) 2 2 Aida Country Report: 3UNHCR Country Update, October 2015.
6 Introduction Current SituationEconomic crisis and political instability Arrivals in Ceuta and Melilla, Barajas Madrid airport, relocations from Italy, few arrivals by boat People arriving in Spain request international protection more than refugee status Rejection rate still high (68,5% in ) 2 Aida Country Report: UNHCR Interview, March 2016 CEAR Interview, March 2016 RED CROSS Interview, March 2016
7 Introduction- StatisticsIMAGE 1 : MAREM project (2016) , own diagram based on Eurostat data (2016)
8 Introduction- StatisticsIMAGE 2 : MAREM project (2016) , own diagram based on Eurostat data (2016)
9 Research Questions What role do cooperation networks of A&R-related organisations play in the national asylum system and implementation of CEAS? What are the characteristics of cooperation ties in Spanish organisation’s networks? Why does Spain not attract many refugees, even if it is one of the nearest and largest Countries in the EU? What gaps exist in the Spanish asylum procedure?
10 Neo-InstitutionalismHypothesis Neo-Institutionalism The higher involvement and influence of Spanish government on humanitarian organisations, the higher the extent of isomorphism in the refugees’ support field. The escalation of humanitarian crisis increases the collaboration between emerging actors, who turn to the few experienced organisations operating in this field, in turn accelerates the process of isomorphism.
11 Data Table of Interview Partners Name of Organisation Spatial ReachType Driving Norms Main Issues Tasks Resources - Amnesty International - CEAR - COMRADE - Paz y Cooperación - Red Acoge - Red Cross International International Local Local National International NGO NGO NGO NGO NGO NGO Support (legal, financial/ economical, social), Integrational work Multiple A&R A&R Multiple I Multiple First aid for basic needs, Trainings, Elucidation , Advocacy Governmental (Ministerio), Donations, Volunteers -Organización Internacional para las Migraciones (OIM) International GO Refugee relief, Public welfare, Integrational Work, Shelter etc I Trafficking, Coordination Regional and national, Governmental Table of Interview Partners
12 Data Table of Interview Partners Name of Organisation Spatial ReachType Driving Norms Main Issues Tasks Resources - UNHCR International IGO Supervisory role A&R Recommen-dations, Trainings, Monitoring Private donations, Public donations, Governmental - University Rey Juan Carlos Local University Education, Research Teaching Refugee related courses in University, Research Governmental Table of Interview Partners
13 Network: Type of Org LEGENDA NGO GO IGO UnknownIMAGE 3: MAREM project, own network visualisation ( )
14 Network: Spatial reachLEGENDA INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL LOCAL IMAGE 4: MAREM project, own network visualisation ( )
15 Network: Values LEGENDA RELIGIOUS POLITICAL OBJECTIVITY HUMAN RIGHTSThe graphs all need sources (she gave us the exact thing to write yesterday in class), there are some colors not indicated in the key/legend so those will have to be added or taking out. Also for the book chapters the charts will all be black and white, so the colors will have to be reassigned shapes or something. IMAGE 5: MAREM project, own network visualisation ( )
16 Results - Networks Governmental organisations work together with NGOs, cooperation on local and international level Pluralistic approach: cooperation with different political parties “It is quite challenging to solidify the network or to get in touch with other organisations, as none of NGOs […] know each other very well” (Red Acoge 2016) Mention in presentation: to solidity = wrong english but that the partner said it like said in the original phrase!! - note for myself: deleted double negatation with „do not“
17 Results - Networks “Every organisation has its own specific field of work” (IOM Spain 2016) → Low emerging → Especially searching for actors with opposite field of work “It is important to allow people from each organisation their own creativity” (Paz y Cooperación 2016)
18 Results - Networks No fixed criteria for cooperation, only “soft criteria” “It is important to share the same vision of the situation and to have [the] same values” (IOM Spain 2016) “There are not so many criteria [for cooperation]. UNHCR tries to work with all organisations that can improve or can contribute to improve protection for refugees“ (UNHCR Madrid 2016) Note to myself: Mention in presentation: Quotations are only from NGOs!!
19 Results - Isomorphism Smaller organisations try to follow recommendations from international and more experienced organisations such as UNHCR, ACCEM, CEAR. “In the same way that Red Cross supports [the] Spanish government, other organisations support Red Cross. CEAR, ACCEM and Red Cross are the experts in this job” (Red Cross, 2016) “CEAR see[s] that organisations are copying other ones, new ones try to interview old established organisations to get tips from them” (CEAR, 2016) “We receive many mails from small organisations that want to cooperate with us” (Red Cross, 2016).
20 Results - Isomorphism The bigger/older the organisation, the more likely they cooperate with “traditional partners” “Our network is stable, we are working with the same organisations for 30 years in the asylum process” (Red Cross, 2016)
21 Results - Isomorphism No big homogeneity in networks → Governmental organisations work together with NGOs, cooperation on local and international level “Organizations tend to cooperate and try to join efforts to get results and to implement skills one from another” (UNHCR, 2016) “Working in cooperation with other organisations is a very important element for Red Acoge as only as team organisations can fully unify all the resources and be productive” (Red Acoge, 2016)
22 Results - Isomorphism: Educational backgroundMain organisations (UNHCR, Red Cross, ACCEM, CEAR) Professionals (full time working as well as volunteers) Mostly lawyers, politicians, psychologists Non-professionals Other organisations Professionals in specific sphere (translators)
23 Results - Asylum Policy in Spain"Asylum procedure in Spain is called ‘delay, delay, delay’” (IOM, 2016) “Legal environment is good, but there are gaps on implementation” (UNHCR Madrid, 2016) CEAR denounces the illegality of “the Push-back practices” in Ceuta and Melilla . “State authorities have the duty to examine individually each case , not to prevent the right of asylum” (CEAR, 2016)
24 (Cano Linares, Angeles, 2016)Results - CEAS, European Level Common rules still interpreted in different ways by country members. “We do not have a common system but a national system, which hinders the proper implementation” (Cano Linares, Angeles, 2016) “The current system is not the adequate response for [the] European [Refugee] Crisis” (Red Acoge, 2016) Better sharing and solidarity are a necessity but they are not achieving the European objective in the area of policy harmonisation.
25 Results - EASO No contact between Spain and EASO, but among EASO and national/ international organisations. “CEAR is working with EASO, there are no projects together but they consult CEAR once or twice a year, they draft a report and CEAR is in the acknowledgment” (CEAR Madrid, 2016) “Spain didn’t ask for EASO’s support until now, there are a couple of collaborations to train case workers police at the enclave’s borders. There is collaboration between UNHCR and EASO, but not as a national office” (UNHCR Madrid, 2016)
26 Results - Criticism Guarantee the end of illegal pushbacks of person who reach Spanish borders and ensure that the non-refoulement principle is respected. Guarantee access to Peninsular Spain to asylum seekers in Ceuta and Melilla whose application is accepted for processing. Spain has need to take more refugees from the resettlement program. “The governmental gap between talk and action: Politicians talk about great capacity Spain has to receive refugees but the government does not use it …to do nothing is not a solution” (Paz y Cooperaciòn, 2016)
27 Results - Proposals Spanish society is ready to host more people.“Spain has not a Xenophobic society, as it does not have this class of politicians who demonstrate this political spirit such as in Austria or France.” ( Red Acoge,2016) Spain has to enhance its integration capacity has to contribute more money to refugee programs. “Everything could be improved, if one just had more money” (Comrade, 2016)
28 Conclusions Heterogeneous network approachNevertheless: aspects of isomorphism exist Wide gap between articulation and implementation of legal rules Humanitarian organizations and Spanish society show high level of willingness to welcome more refugees Limited budget (after 2008) constitutes one of the biggest problems for the majority of organizations Spain is not a magnet country due to geographical distance with Middle East and a severe economic crisis BUT number of arrivals is growing Full sentences should be avoived. Here there are four full sentences mixed with two statements.
29 Thank you for your attention!IMAGE 6: Alona Mirko‘s Photo, Town hall of Madrid, March 2016
30 Sources Aida Country Report: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/26/second-general-election-looks-set-to-leave-spain-divided EUROSTAT UNHCR Country Update, October 2015 CEAR annual Report 2015 CEAR annual Report 2016 Informe 2015: las Personas rifugiadas en Espana y en Europa, CEAR ACCEM Report Interview with Paz y Coperaciòn, 2016 Interview with COMRADE, 2016 Interview with UNHCR, 2016 Interview with CEAR, 2016 Interview with Red Acoge, 2016