If the eurozone crisis was the defining issue in the Barroso II Commission, migration has dominated Jean-Claude Juncker’s term in office.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing wars in the Middle East and North Africa, combined with primarily economic migration from sub-Saharan Africa, led to a surge in migration numbers, and difficulties for some member states, particularly those in the Mediterranean Sea.
The number of migrants reaching European soil has fallen dramatically in the last two years and eventually returned to pre-crisis levels in 2018. But the political impasse between EU member states, and public perceptions of migration and security appear to have hardened.
Attempts by EU lawmakers to overhaul the bloc’s laws have floundered, primarily over opposition by a handful of countries, led by the Visegrad group of central European countries, to mandatory relocation or resettlement of refugees.
This Special Report takes snapshots on migration and security policy from five member states ahead of European Parliament elections in May.
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French debate on setting migration quotas reopened
The question of setting migration quotas in France has come back to the forefront through the 'great debate' initiated by Emmanuel Macron. EURACTIV France reports.
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Crisis over, crisis continues
The migration crisis in Europe is over. According to the statistics, at least. The political crisis over how and whether to reform the bloc's immigration and asylum rules remains as deadlocked as ever.
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Greek MEPs demand action on overpopulated migrant centres
Overpopulation of migrant reception centres on the island of Samos has reached the point of no return, with the local community and local authorities left overwhelmed and demanding assistance from the Greek government.
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Germany needs a quarter of a million migrant workers a year
Germany is dependent on migrant workers but a decreasing number of them will be EU citizens in the future. In the long term, about 146,000 immigrants from outside of the EU will have to be integrated into the German labour market every year, according to a recent study. EURACTIV Germany reports.
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Romania treads water on migration and asylum reforms
In 2015, Romania voted against relocation quotas for refugees within the EU, though it later supported the UN’s Global Compact on Refugees. Recently, it was asked by the UNHCR to use its six-month EU presidency to mobilise member states to be more active in managing the flows of refugees. EURACTIV Romania reports.
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Poland seeks to protect its Ukrainian connection
Although they are vital to the Polish economy, no one really knows how many Ukrainian migrants live in the country.
