The Informalisation of the EU's External Action in the Field of Migration and Asylum

While the use informal instruments in the external dimension of EU Migration and Asylum Policy is nothing new, this chapter argues that there was a significant increase in the adoption of such instruments in the aftermath of the 2015 migration crisis. It begins by providing a brief overview of this trend whereby the EU concludes informal deals and arrangements to cooperate with third country partners to curb and manage migration flows and facilitate the return of irregular migrants. Subsequently, it introduces the three parts of the book which deal with the implications of this trend on the EU constitutional order (Part I), on the human rights of individuals affected by these deals (Part II), and on third country partners and the global regime on the protection of refugees (Part III). Last but not least, it provides an overview of each contribution contained in these three parts.