European nations are intensifying their asylum and migration policies, with the Schengen visa—originally aimed at facilitating tourism, business, healthcare, and free movement—now under threat of cancellation.
These measures, often justified by emergency situations or crises, represent a shift away from the EU’s established rules.
France and Germany have notably toughened their immigration laws. France has amended its immigration law to restrict social benefits for migrants, expedite deportations, and limit citizenship rights by birth.
The revised French law also reduces the time limits for asylum appeals and permits video-conferenced hearings, potentially undermining due process.
In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pushed legislation to ease the deportation of unsuccessful asylum seekers.
The new law, effective early 2024, extends detention times for asylum seekers and increases police powers to conduct home searches to enforce deportations.
Moreover, Germany has seen a 23% increase in deportations in 2023, with expectations for further rises following the enactment of this law.
Sweden has taken a different approach by offering 30,000 euros to immigrants willing to return to their home countries.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands rejected the European migration treaty, and Italy established detention camps outside the EU’s borders.
The resurgence of far-right and populist movements in Europe is largely driven by immigration issues, with approximately 50 right-wing populist parties using migration as a cornerstone for their political resurgence.
The recent European elections in June 2024 saw these parties replacing traditional ones in eight countries, reflecting their growing influence across the EU.
These stringent measures reflect a significant shift in Europe’s political landscape, where the rise in immigration during 2015 and 2016 has led to the emergence of populist governments focusing on preventing migrants from entering Europe.
This has resulted in new laws making it increasingly difficult for asylum seekers to obtain protection and remain within their host countries.
