A Mobility Partnership is a political framework developed by the European Union to manage migration relations with third countries in a comprehensive way. Introduced under the EU's Global Approach to Migration (later renamed the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility, GAMM, adopted by the European Commission in 2011), Mobility Partnerships bundle together commitments on four pillars: legal migration and mobility, irregular migration and readmission, international protection, and the development impact of migration.
Mobility Partnerships are politically binding but not legally binding joint declarations. They are signed between the EU, interested EU member states, and a partner country. Because participation by member states is voluntary, the content of each partnership varies depending on which states join and what they offer — for example visa facilitation, circular migration schemes, scholarships, or capacity-building for border agencies.
Typical components include:
- Legal migration channels (seasonal work, student mobility, researcher exchange).
- Readmission and return cooperation, often accompanied by a parallel EU readmission agreement.
- Border management and anti-smuggling support, including assistance from Frontex.
- Protection of migrants' rights and asylum capacity-building.
- Diaspora engagement and remittance facilitation.
The EU has concluded Mobility Partnerships with several neighbourhood and African states, including Cape Verde (2008), Moldova (2008), Georgia (2009), Armenia (2011), Morocco (2013), Azerbaijan (2013), Tunisia (2014), Jordan (2014) and Belarus (2016, later suspended in the political context after 2020).
Critics — including academics and NGOs such as the Migration Policy Institute and Statewatch — have argued that in practice the partnerships are weighted toward the EU's security and return priorities, with the "mobility" component (especially visa access) remaining modest. Supporters counter that they offer a structured forum for dialogue and have, in some cases, paved the way for visa liberalisation, as occurred with Moldova in 2014 and Georgia in 2017.
Example
In June 2013, the EU and Morocco signed a Mobility Partnership covering visa facilitation, readmission, and cooperation against irregular migration across the Western Mediterranean.
Frequently asked questions
No. It is a political joint declaration; any binding elements (such as visa facilitation or readmission) require separate EU agreements concluded under the Treaties.
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