A forecast has dominated a lot of the mainstream media for months: migration would be the massive problem of 2024. Though one thing of a self-fulfilling prophecy, polls counsel that the prediction does replicate a really actual zeitgeist. In line with a Eurobarometer survey revealed in December 2023, 28% of Europeans take into account immigration to be one of many two important challenges going through the European Union, alongside the conflict in Ukraine.
Admittedly, the topic makes headlines in each election yr. However this yr’s extremely anticipated European elections in June might 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 had been as influential in shaping social discourse final yr as migration”, experiences Lucia Schulten for the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW). “It is more likely to dominate the EU’s agenda once more within the new yr.”
The trigger? The enhance in asylum functions in some European nations is an element, as are the a number of agreements signed by the EU with nations which 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 because of undertake the package deal within the first half of 2024.
Europe’s urge for food for the migration problem additionally appears to obey one other logic: “Unofficially, it is mentioned in Brussels that an asylum coverage settlement was wanted to gradual the rise of right-wing populists.”, experiences Schulten. “Migration has usually performed a significant political position in lots of member state polls”, she factors out, however provides that consultants “are sceptical that the brand new asylum guidelines may help to make the difficulty much less explosive, as a result of the truth 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 return — together with additional shock wins from far-right candidates”, verify Clea Caulcutt and Nicholas Vinocur for Politico. And their considerations should not illegitimate: “In almost a dozen European nations, together with France and Germany, hardline anti-immigration events, a few of them extra excessive than Wilders, are at present topping the polls, or in a detailed second place.”
Caulcutt and Vinocur notice that the far-right events are benefiting from the fruits of an extended technique of normalisation in public opinion. However not solely that: “For a number of analysts, immigration, the Hamas-Israel conflict, the fatigue with mainstream events, and insecurity over the conflict in Ukraine are turning into an unprecedented alignment of stars for Europe’s far-right events as a lot of them try to 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 correct response [to the rise of the far right], both avoiding tough questions or making an attempt to imitate the far proper.”
Beggar thy neighbour
Getting out of bother by copying the far proper will not be a brand new technique, however it’s counterproductive and harmful, asserts migration skilled Zoe Gardner for The New European. She takes for example the United Kingdom, the place the Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak has made the battle towards unlawful immigration his important 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 really 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: “With regards 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 difficulty of migration, the correct and the far proper are likely to converge, as demonstrated in France by the draft legislation 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 aren’t any phrases robust sufficient to explain this catastrophe of an immigration invoice, the ultra-radical model of which was lastly voted by on 19 December within the Senate after which within the Nationwide Meeting”, fulminated Sandrine Foulon, editor of the French publication Alternate options Economiques. Claiming to be combating the far proper isn’t 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 environment. Given the migration tragedies of the final yr, and the persistent downside of housing migrants decently, the difficulty 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 properly for the 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 conflict started, the exiles have confronted a modified relationship with their host communities, with different refugees and with their family members again dwelling. Ukrainian society as an entire 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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