Abstract

The paper maintains that OMC mechanisms, if adequately designed and used, as policy instruments which
combine the use of soft and hard law at all levels of decision-making, could help promote the adoption of a
human rights model in immigration policies and foster the protection and strengthening of TCNs human rights. In particular, OMC mechanisms could help revisit the philosophy underpinning EU immigration policy and foster a process which entails a shift from a central focus on securitization of immigration towards a more inclusive and proactive immigration policy and, consequently, provide the basis for a more coherent EU framework.