Sharing Refugees after Lisbon – Solution for the Small States?
Sharing Refugees after Lisbon – Solution for the Small States?

Summary/Abstract: The article is elaborating on the different burden sharing ideas created at the European Union level by looking at the pre and post Lisbon time. It describes the role of Frontex and states in sharing the burden of asylum applicants by controlling borders and taking responsibility. It gives a review of some theoretical aspects of burden sharing in the context of immigration and asylum. Article is analysing the different legal and policy sources for promotion of burden sharing between the EU states. Illegal immigration and big numbers of asylum seekers seem to be a problem for small states - small in territory and population Case studies of the situation in Malta and Estonia are discussed as these are one of the examples of two small states at the external border of the European Union. Finally it comes to the conclusion that from the part of small states there seems to be more interest to promote the sharing of immigration burden, especially of those guarding the external border in south and east.

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