The European Union and Migration: Between Economic Needs and the Imperative of Preserving European Values

Abstract

This research examines European Union policies toward migration and asylum, focusing on the factors that have made Europe a destination for migrants, particularly its need for foreign labour and skilled workers amid the continent’s economic and demographic transformations. It traces the evolution of this approach, from openness to legal migration and labour recruitment to stricter border controls and efforts to curb irregular migration, accompanied by the growing influence of anti-immigrant and anti-refugee movements, as well as the rise of populism and the far right. The research adopts an analytical approach to examine these developments and their legal, political, security, and social dimensions. It also addresses the challenges of integration, multiculturalism, and identity, and their implications for social cohesion and internal security, as well as the impact of the migration crisis on the Schengen system and the sharing of asylum responsibilities among Member States. Furthermore, it examines the European Union’s efforts to develop balanced approaches that reconcile security, economic, and humanitarian considerations. The study concludes that differences among Member States and the continuing challenges of harmonizing European policies remain obstacles to more effective and balanced management of migration and asylum.