Migration in the European Union in an Age of Populism and Security

ongoing

Migration has become one of the most salient issues in public debates across the European Union (EU) in recent years. This is notably – but not exclusively - the result of the growing importance of populist parties in several EU Member States. Many of those have combined populism with nativism and have advocated prioritising the interests of ‘native citizens’ over those of migrants and ethnic minorities. They have also often depicted asylum-seekers and migrants as a security threat. Concurrently, there has been a number of violent incidents relating to migration and asylum across the EU, such as various arson attacks on accommodation for asylum-seekers. As these events have unfolded, the EU has continued to develop its asylum and migration policy, notably through the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. At the same time, some third countries have sought to exploit the heightened sensitivity of asylum and migration issues in the EU, notably by instrumentalising migration flows and spreading disinformation relating to asylum and migration matters. Against this backdrop, the proposed EUMIGPOPS project aims (1) to implement several teaching and research activities on various aspects of the EU asylum and migration policy, including the extent to which it has been influenced by populism and security concerns and the effects that this has had on third countries, beside a range of events targeting different audiences; (2) to generate original and policy-relevant knowledge of asylum and migration in the EU; (3) to foster sustained and fruitful dialogue between academia and society on asylum and migration matters; (4) to increase knowledge of the EU, particularly of its growing role in asylum and migration matters; and (5) to conduct active outreach and educational work on the EU and on its impact on the daily life of its citizens, especially in the area of asylum and migration.