Library Dissertation Showcase

Migration policy and politics: How the politicisation of migration impacts the EU’s ability to create a consensual migration policy

  • Year of Publication:
  • 2022

The 2015 Refugee Crisis highlighted the weaknesses of the Common European Asylum System and emphasised the lack of solidarity among Member States in times of urgency. The discrepancy in the response to the crisis is partly technical and partly political. The action taken by Member States differed greatly because of policy weaknesses but, mostly, due to high levels of domestic politicisation. Although the Tampere Council intended on creating a homogenous policy that would be applicable across the board, the differing self interests and priorities of Member States have contributed towards the need for new legislation. Although EU policy on migration, particularly the Dublin Regulation, is faulty and needs reformulation, the domestic politics of Member States will continue to hinder the advancement of a consensual migration system. Given the present political context in Europe, regardless of how humanistic a Member State may desire to be, the detachment between Member States and the priority of the preservation of national interests gravely hinders the advancement of fairer migration policy. The only way to ensure that Italy, Greece and other possible frontline Member States are not subjected to the same problems is by reforming the Dublin Regulation and implementing greater solidarity. However, the principle established in Article 80 of the TFEU is dependent on the willingness of Member States to think and act collectively.

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