The ambiguity of EU external borders management: The evolution of de jure and de facto human rights protection in Frontex operations in the Mediterranean

This mémoire examines how far human rights protection has been enhanced in the mandates of Frontex and how the de jure development is reflected in the practice of Frontex operations. A document analysis of documents by EU institutions, IOs and NGOs on operations Hera, Poseidon and Triton demonstrates that there is a discrepancy between the improvements of the legal framework for the protection of human rights and the reality on the ground during Frontex operations. After the so-called “migration crisis” of 2015, Frontex embraced a securitarian approach of borders control aimed at fighting smugglers resulting in the violation of the rights of migrants. It is argued that humanitarian language is instrumentalised to justify restrictive policy