Understanding the normative (in)coherence between migration and the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) supposedly integrated migration into global sustainable development paradigms as it was included as Target 10.7: “Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies”, which is part of SDG 10 that aims to “Reduce Inequalities Within and Between Regions”. Despite this formal inclusion of migration in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, important criticisms have been raised concerning the content of Target 10.7, as observers contend that this target actually reinforces the rights of states to control migration and, in doing so, it does not promote coherence between migration and sustainable development strategies. This chapter engages this discussion. The research question it presents asks, “How normatively coherent are migrant integration strategies in the European Union with the SDG framework?” The aim of the chapter is to highlight the degree of policy (in)coherence that exists between migration and sustainable development.