abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

15 Sep 2015

Author:
Keith Proctor, Fortune

Tighter EU border controls would benefit defence contractors while exposing refugees to higher risks, according to experts

"Europe’s migrant crisis: Defense contractors are poised to win big", 10 Sep 2015

Europe’s defense industry...stands to reap a windfall from the migrant crisis...Military technology – like satellites, sensors, and drones – is being repurposed to meet rising demands for border security...Which companies stand to benefit from this growth? According to SIPRI [Stockholm International Peace Research Institut]’s most recent global ranking, the largest European defense players are Finmeccanica, the UK’s BAE Systems, France’s Thales, and European multinational Airbus, formerly EADS...Security working groups, which steer EU policy, are packed with industry representatives, according to the Migrants Files, a consortium of 15 European journalists. At the same time, these working groups lack adequate representation from the International Organization for Migration or UNHCR, the United Nations’ refugee agency...Policies create industries, say the critics, which may in turn influence policy...Strict border controls simply raises the prices refugees have to pay smugglers, as well as the risks of getting in..."the suffering and border deaths among migrants and refugees increase” [says Hein de Haas, a professor of migration studies at the University of Amsterdam]

Timeline