NEKSUS MIGRACIJA I SIGURNOSTI NA JUGOISTOKU EVROPE
MIGRATION AND SECURITY NEXUS IN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

Summary/Abstract: The migration and security nexus in Southeast Europe is becoming increasingly important, primarily due to the potential links between illegal migration and specific security threats. As part of the research on the links between migration and security in the period 2016-2021 in Southeast Europe, interviews with 32 experts in the field of migration and security were conducted, through which attitudes and opinions on these links were examined. Also, a questionnaire was completed with 252 respondents from the humanitarian sector, professionals who participate in the implementation of various humanitarian programs in Southeast Europe. The research results indicate the existence of causal links between migration and security in this region. The opinion of the majority of respondents leads to the conclusion that migration is related to terrorism, cross-border crime, and human trafficking. Still, it cannot be considered a cause or generator of these threats. According to most respondents, the term "illegal migration" should be replaced with "irregular migration" in everyday communication to avoid the criminalization of migrants in such situations and the negative impact on determining their status. Attitudes and opinions of experts about the violation of the migrant's fundamental human rights in this area and the migrant crisis in some countries in this region were examined. Most respondents believe that migratory movements have grown into a crisis in some countries in this area, although the duration of the crisis was limited in time. It was concluded that the nexus of migration and security in this area depends on many factors. Still, it can be supposed that migration creates some security challenges in Southeast Europe.

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