A forecast has dominated a lot of the mainstream media for months: migration would be the large challenge of 2024. Though one thing of a self-fulfilling prophecy, polls recommend that the prediction does mirror a really actual zeitgeist. In keeping with a Eurobarometer survey revealed in December 2023, 28% of Europeans take into account immigration to be one of many two fundamental challenges dealing with the European Union, alongside the struggle in Ukraine.
Admittedly, the topic makes headlines in each election 12 months. However this 12 months’s extremely anticipated European elections in June will probably be held within the wake of far-right breakthroughs throughout the continent. That may solely make the topic all of the extra omnipresent.
A Europe-wide hobbyhorse
”Few matters have been as influential in shaping social discourse final 12 months as migration”, stories Lucia Schulten for the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW). ”It is prone to dominate the EU’s agenda once more within the new 12 months.”
The trigger? The enhance in asylum purposes in some European nations is an element, as are the a number of agreements signed by the EU with nations that may restrict migration within the Mediterranean – Tunisia, Libya and Turkey. Above all, there may be the upcoming reform of Europe’s coverage for receiving migrants. The member states discovered settlement in mid-December and are as a consequence of undertake the bundle within the first half of 2024.
Europe’s urge for food for the migration challenge additionally appears to obey one other logic: ”Unofficially, it is stated in Brussels that an asylum coverage settlement was wanted to sluggish the rise of right-wing populists.”, stories Schulten. ”Migration has typically performed a significant political function in lots of member state polls”, she factors out, however provides that consultants ”are sceptical that the brand new asylum guidelines can assist to make the problem much less explosive, as a result of the fact is that migration will proceed.”
A dread of the far proper appears to be hardening on the summit of Europe. ”Following [Geert Wilders]’s shock election win within the Netherlands, European elites are nervously scanning the political panorama for indicators of what’s to come back — together with additional shock wins from far-right candidates”, verify Clea Caulcutt and Nicholas Vinocur for Politico. And their issues should not illegitimate: ”In practically a dozen European nations, together with France and Germany, hardline anti-immigration events, a few of them extra excessive than Wilders, are presently topping the polls, or in an in depth second place.”
Caulcutt and Vinocur word that the far-right events are benefiting from the fruits of a protracted means of normalisation in public opinion. However not solely that: “For a number of analysts, immigration, the Hamas-Israel struggle, the fatigue with mainstream events, and insecurity over the struggle in Ukraine are turning into an unprecedented alignment of stars for Europe’s far-right events as lots of them try and seize the centre floor.” The 2 Politico journalists are uncertain in regards to the technique employed by some: ”Professional-Europe, centrist events have to date didn’t nail the precise response [to the rise of the far right], both avoiding troublesome questions or making an attempt to imitate the far proper.”
Beggar thy neighbour
Getting out of bother by copying the far proper is just not a brand new technique, however it’s counterproductive and harmful, asserts migration professional Zoe Gardner for The New European. She takes for instance the United Kingdom, the place the Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak has made the struggle in opposition to unlawful immigration his fundamental fight, at the price of pushing for excessive measures and utilizing probably the most alarmist rhetoric.
On 16 December, “Sunak gave a speech at a right-wing political gathering in Italy which was actually chilling”, writes Gardner. ”He warned that Europe could be ’overwhelmed’ with out his radical measures.”
The tone was intentionally doom-mongering, believes Gardner. Presenting migration as an existential menace to the West can serve to justify probably the most abusive insurance policies: ”In relation to our survival as a civilisation, the tip justifies all of the means.”
A dangerous technique
Defeating the reactionaries on their very own turf? It is an intriguing transfer. On the problem of migration, the precise and the far proper are inclined to converge, as demonstrated in France by the draft regulation on the topic debated in December 2023. The invoice, which has been criticised for drastically tightening reception situations on French soil, is seen by some as a victory for Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement Nationwide, which weighed closely within the parliamentary vote.
”’Disgrace’, ’shame’, ’shipwreck’… There are not any phrases robust sufficient to explain this catastrophe of an immigration invoice, the ultra-radical model of which was lastly voted via on 19 December within the Senate after which within the Nationwide Meeting”, fulminated Sandrine Foulon, editor of the French publication Options Economiques. Claiming to be combating the far proper is not any impediment to working with it, the French instance seems to show.Appeals for calm and sanity are unlikely to discover a place on this heated political ambiance. Given the migration tragedies of the final 12 months, and the persistent drawback of housing migrants decently, the problem appears right here to remain. Within the run-up to the EU elections, a public debate on the query of receiving migrants stays urgently wanted. However the connivance with reactionary speaking factors, the alarmist rhetoric and the rise of the far proper don’t augur effectively for the end result of that debate.
On migration and asylum
Olena Yermakova | Eurozine| 11 December | EN
For Ukrainian migrants who left their nation following Russia’s invasion, going overseas has introduced comforts – and questions. Because the struggle started, the exiles have confronted a modified relationship with their host communities, with different refugees and with their kinfolk again dwelling. Ukrainian society as a complete is altering with them, believes Olena Yermakova.
Evelyn Groenink | Mondiaal Nieuws | 6 December | NL
That is the extremely topical query posed by Evelyn Groenink. As Africa slowly turns into a jail, EU governments are more and more consorting with undemocratic regimes, delegating to them the duty of controlling migration.
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