Exporting justice, importing security, and the rise of the EU as a normative power

At a first quick glance, the idea of a ‘normative power EU’ seems to contradict the idea of the EU as a constructor of “Fortress Europe”. In other words, the EU concerns with human rights, justice, truth and democracy appear to run counter to its concern with security and migration. In my presentation I would like to highlight the efforts of the EU to export human rights, justice, truth and democracy and also its efforts to ascend to the role of a global ‘normative’ player, to then focus on how these efforts in part stem from and in part are undermined by its security concerns. The (seeming) contradiction between the professed adherence to human rights and the disregard of these rights in the case of (potential) asylum seekers and 'illegal' migrants costs the EU the support of its domestic critics. It also gains it critical appraisals beyond its borders. Yet we cannot wholeheartedly condemn or approve of the export of human rights, justice, truth and democracy in general, but instead have to take a closer look at the meaning and effects this export has at various points of destination.