Irregular Migration in the Mediterranean Sea: The Role of Europol and European Migrant Smuggling Centre

This bachelor thesis deals with the role of Europol and the EMSC in solving the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. As a result of the rising number of migrants arriving to Europe, crime rate has increased, mainly smuggling of illegal migrants, which required swift and effective actions by European institutions and agencies. This study uses the theory of new institutionalism which reflects the interest in the study of institutions that have a significant impact on formation of attitudes and behavior of institutional stakeholders. The aim is to analyze the process of institutionalization among the European stakeholders in response to the migration crisis from 2015 till 2019. The process of institutionalization includes political debates by EU officials and documents issued by the European Commission that have contributed to the reorganization within Europol and emergence of new platforms. By analyzing these individual steps, the thesis aims to present the role of individual institutional elements in dealing with criminal activities related to illegal migration and how these elements ensure security within the European area