Self-interested solidarity? A case study of Luxembourg's support for the refugee relocation mechanism during its EU Council Presidency in 2015
Author
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-10-16
Abstract
This thesis examines Luxembourg's staunch support for the refugee relocation mechanism, a system designed to distribute migratory pressures more evenly across member states, during its 2015 EU presidency. Through an in-depth, deductive case study, this research examines the underlying motivation of Luxembourg's political position within a complementary framework of liberal intergovernmentalism and small state status-seeking. The research demonstrates Luxembourg's dependence on a robust and integrated EU and the vital importance of maintaining the Schengen area of free movement for its economic model. Moreover, the research illustrates Luxembourg's engagement in soft power tactics that resemble a status-seeking strategy. Luxembourg does this by presenting itself as a reliable partner and mediator in the negotiations on the relocation mechanism, while at the same time using its 'moral authority'. While the nuances of status-seeking need to be further explored, this study underscores Luxembourg's pragmatic advocacy of EU integration as well as its deliberate soft power strategies within the EU.
Keywords
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