EU Border Management Research

The process of European integration has a very close relationship with border and border governance,given that the process of European integration is the integration among sovereign states that actually refers to cross-border free flow of resources that requires members to soften the border between each other.The softening of the border is reflected in the weakening or even cancellation of the internal border control,otherwise the integration process will not advance fundamentally.In order to adapt to the process of integration,the real need to eliminate the internal boundary control is the driving force behind the construction of the Schengen area.On the one hand,the free movement of the personnel,goods,funds and services in the Schengen area has greatly accelerated European integration;while on the other hand,it presents higher requirements for external border governance due to the fact that external border security is not only related to the security of the border countries and the internal countries,but also to the overall security of the EU as well.The enlargement and deepening of the EU highlights the importance of border governance,which mainly embodies as the fact that the enlargement increases the length of the border line,making the security environment of EU external border become more complex;while the deepening presents the requirement for the integration of the border governance considering that the deepening of the degree of EU integration has led to increased security demands of member states,especially illegal immigrants,refugees and terrorist attacks,and the impact on EU security have increased public awareness on border security.In this context,how to strengthen the EU border governance and conduct effective maintenance on the EU comprehensive border security becomes a problem that the academia and practice departments must think about.To strengthen the EU border governance,we need to conduct a systematic study of the EU border governance and find out the deficiencies in the EU border governance in the first place so that it can be strengthened specifically.In this paper,the "EU border governance – taking the EU Schengen District as the main object" will be my research purpose and it will be conducted mainly from the following five aspects as follows:Chapter 1 is about the definition of the basic concept of EU border governance.This chapter defines the concepts of boundary,border,frontier,EU border,Schengen border,border governance and EU border defense governance and analyzes the differences and links among these concepts.Through the study of this chapter,I believe that the European border governance and the EU border governance is the embodiment of border governance activities within Europe and the EU,so the European border governance and the EU border governance must have basic elements and characteristics of border management.However,because of the special geography of Europe and the EU,the European border governance and the EU border governance also has its own features.European border governance refers to the border governance among European sovereign state,and the EU border governance refers to the border governance of EU as a whole,so EU border governance and European border governance are not only different,but linked with each other as well.Chapter 2 is about the relevant theoretical interpretation of EU border control.Although border governance is a highly practical work,it still needs theoretical guidance,because the border practice under different theoretical guidance is very different.For example,the border practice under the guidance of "hard boundary theory" highlights the obstacle and barrier function of the boundary;while the border practice under the guidance of "soft boundary theory" places emphasis on the bridge and communication function of the boundary.Because the EU border governance practice is not only influenced by the boundary theory,but also the border control system,the responsibility-sharing system and the governance mode,therefore,this paper mainly studies those questions related to the above issues such as soft boundary theory,multi-layer governance theory,responsibility-sharing theory,external governance theory.This chapter not only studies the background and main contents of the above theories,but also studies its application in the EU border governance.Also a further deep reflection is made on the application of these theories in EU border control like the match issue between these theories and the EU border governance practice.Then an improvement of the above theory is analyzed.Chapter3 is about the EU border governance system,measures and institutions.The smooth development of EU border governance practice requires a good-system guarantee,perfect measures,reasonable institutional setting and high-quality border governance force.This chapter examines the concept of EU border management,frontier system,laws and regulations,management measures,institutions and border control force from the perspective of EU border management system.Through the analysis of this chapter,I believe that the EU border management is actually the result of combined effects of the above factors.Chapter 4 is about the governance practice of EU border defense under the background of the integration.Adopting the method of historical review and following the path of European integration,this chapter makes an in-depth analysis of EU integration border governance practice based on the history and current situation of EU border management.Integrated border management practice not only refers to the specific,integrated border governance activities such as the joint action under the auspices of the Frontex,the border governance cooperation between the EU and neighboring countries and the EU's border assistance to neighboring countries;but also involves with integrated border governance ideas,systems,institutions,establishment of strategies and its application,etc.As a result,the border governance practice of EU integration is a comprehensive practice,not only including all the elements of border governance of EU integration,but covers all process of the border governance practice of EU integration.Chapter 5 talks about the problems and prospects in EU border defense governance.Along the path of question,cause and countermeasure,this chapter analyzes the causes of these problems and gives the main countermeasures to solve these issues,with a view to aiding the smooth progress of the EU border management practice.Given that the EU border governance is an ongoing experiment,which indicates that it still has sufficient room for development,this paper discusses the future prospects of the EU border defense control from the perspective of European integration.