This study clarifies the following definitions:

• Weaponization of migration is the exploitation of voluntary or forced migration and refugee flows created deliberately for certain reasons or previously created by a third party with political, military, or any other types of goals.
   
• Migration instrumentalization, which is a a type of weaponization of migration, occurs when non-EU countries instigate migratory flows towards the external borders of the European Union to unsettle the Union or a Member State.

The study also highlights that the weaponization of migration can be categorized into seven groups:

• Coercive
• Dispossesive
• Exportive
• Economic
• Fifth column
• Militarized
• Political

The author, Selin BAŞER, concludes that awareness of the phenomenon and thorough background information are necessary to identify whether migration is being used as a weapon. The use of weaponized migration is increasing day by day; however, since it does not always seem to entail violence from an external perspective and it is usually discreetly applied, it is generally very difficult to notice this phenomenon.

The author also concludes that there is a critical need to diversify the defense mechanisms that can be integrated into routine application to hinder the inhumane use of migration. The legislative regulations and initiatives recently implemented by the EU within the framework of migration instrumentalization are examples of such defense mechanisms.

For further information, please read the study attached above.