Today, Europe finds itself in a severe and chaotic catch-22 over migration and border control. The continent continues to be burdened by these problems. This persistent combat culture exposes a more pernicious fetish endangering not just those fleeing war, but all of Europe. As all of these intersecting changes play out, the impacts of this dangerous obsession with borders are […]
The migration crisis transformed both civil society and the European political landscape in 2015, when then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “We can do it.” During this time, Europe was grappling with its own migration crisis while hosting millions of migrants fleeing from war and persecution. The chilling photo of Alan Kurdi, the young Syrian boy whose drowned body washed up on a Turkish beach, became the face of this disaster. This chilling photo horrified Europe and led to discussions about the continent’s moral and ethical obligations to refugees.
Like The Scene in Europe Sponsored On European politics have changed radically in the years since the stunning migration crisis. The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union led to an increased pattern of migration post-Brexit. Millions took up the cause, seeking educational opportunity, economic prosperity, personal safety and security in Europe. By 2017, German diplomats were referring to Libyan detention centers as “concentration camp-like.” This powerful description laid bare the perilous conditions so many migrants were experiencing in their search for passage to Europe.
Each year, many thousands perish in the Mediterranean. They brave treacherous waters in a life-or-death journey to safety. Humanitarian activists who strive to prevent mass drownings are increasingly facing criminalization, highlighting a troubling trend in Europe’s approach to migration. What would be the biggest lifesaving effort has been directed back towards the borders by reluctant governments who continue to value border enforcement over humanitarianism.
The European Union has deepened its partnerships with fundamentalist and authoritarian states beyond its borders in a bid to stop migration. This strategy has played a significant role in the expansion of authoritarianism to areas previously considered valuable allies in controlling migration flows. Border zones throughout Europe have turned into fortress-style militarized zones. This radical overhaul endangers our freedom to move, one of the cornerstones of the European project.
The extreme right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has emerged as the dominant opposition party in Germany. They have been particularly adept at harnessing the increasing anxieties over migration. This shift has prompted mainstream parties, including the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, to adopt increasingly extreme and racially charged narratives regarding migrants and refugees. Yet these recent developments run counter to the very founding principles of the European Union. They threaten to further alienate the very people who used to view Europe as a bastion of safety, prosperity and hope.
The EU’s border agency, Frontex, has increased its annual budget by a factor of 11 since 2005. It more than doubled from €97.9 million in 2014 and is expected to grow to €922 million by 2024. This funding pledge is a stark example of how the EU continues to put border security ahead of humanitarian support. It further emboldens their agenda to continue efforts prioritizing controlling migration over addressing the root causes of displacement.
Even as Europe comes to terms with these urgent, crisscrossing questions, the consequences of its border regime continue to echo far from its borders. The abdication of responsibility for border control to third countries outside the EU has implications for accountability and human rights. In a bid to prevent irregular arrivals, Europe is putting itself at risk of abandoning its own fundamental values and principles.