Not since World War II have there been so many people forced to leave their home countries. The majority of refugees and migrants is hosted by relatively poor countries in the Global South. Many do not enjoy sufficient protection during and after their travels.  As a response, the United Nations started negotiations on two global compacts, one on refugees and the other on migration. What kind of obligations do state parties have according to the two compacts? What rights of refugees and migrants are recognized? And how justified are EU policies in light of the global compacts?

In her analysis, Elspeth Guild of Queen Mary University of London sheds light on the political implications of both global compacts, particularly for EU border control policies.