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Beyond recognition : why the EU needs legislation to protect environmentally displaced persons
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1830-7728
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EUI; MWP; Working Paper; 2025/03
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AMOURI, Baya, Beyond recognition : why the EU needs legislation to protect environmentally displaced persons, EUI, MWP, Working Paper, 2025/03 - https://hdl.handle.net/1814/93665
Abstract
The European Union’s asylum system remains largely silent on displacement caused by environmental factors. Despite the growing reality of environment-induced mobility, there is currently no legal framework within EU law that recognises or protects those forced to move because of environmental harms. This paper addresses the resulting protection gap and argues that this omission runs counter to the EU’s Treaty principles, its human rights obligations, and its environmental commitments. The absence of legal recognition leaves affected individuals in a position of extreme vulnerability, with no clear path to protection. Moreover, it risks weakening the EU’s legal consistency and undermines its credibility on the international stage. The study highlights the need to rethink EU asylum policies in light of contemporary displacement dynamics, particularly those driven by environmental degradation and climate change.