The European political arena, which has embraced an active immigrant reception policy, is rapidly reconfiguring itself with an anti-immigration stance. Policies such as expanding the reception of third-country nationals and strengthening border surveillance are being officially discussed, creating a scenario where even centrist and progressive forces are locking the doors beyond the far-right.
According to The New York Times (NYT) on the 29th (local time), politicians in various European countries are recently implementing tough policies toward immigrants. Denmark is enforcing its 'zero refugee' policy, which has the strictest standards for refugee reception in the world, while Germany and Austria are enhancing checks at land borders.
The European Union (EU) has recently decided to deploy personnel to strengthen border security in the non-member country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it is also reported to be considering regulations that would process migration and asylum applications in third countries.
Last month in Rome, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen held a joint press conference, stating that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) excessively restricts the expulsion rights of nations, and they issued a public letter urging for some leniency. The letter included names of politicians from various countries and political orientations, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Poland.
Prime Minister Meloni is currently pursuing a plan to transfer asylum seekers overseas, and it is reported that they are considering housing asylum seekers in Albania during the negotiation process. Previously, the United Kingdom also promoted the so-called 'Rwanda policy' to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda during the tenure of the former Conservative government.
Experts view the anti-immigration sentiment not as a short-term trend but closer to a transformative shift. Former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer noted that 'while Europe previously expressed concerns about human rights violations regarding Australia's externalized policies, now Europe is, in turn, following our lead.'
Nicola Procaccini, a member of the Brothers of Italy and chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), emphasized that 'the politicians who criticized us are now repeating our words.'
The shift in policy stance is interpreted as a pragmatic response to changes in voter sentiment. According to data from Frontex, the EU's border management agency, illegal immigration has decreased by about 20% this year compared to last year, yet anti-immigration sentiment shows no signs of waning. This is seen as a result of a significant influx of refugees from the Middle East and Africa over the past decade, along with a surge in immigration rates after the end of COVID-19, amplifying dissatisfaction among domestic voters.
Some are concerned that this change could also disadvantage legal immigrants. Magdalena Czajinska-Jachim, the mayor of Sopot in Poland, criticized, 'Our community has long welcomed Ukrainian refugees as neighbors,' adding that 'the recent rhetoric in the political arena treats all immigrants as potential criminals.'
There are also arguments that simply reducing the influx of immigrants will not resolve anti-immigration sentiment. Martin Hoffman, a consultant at the International Center for the Development of Migration Policy (ICPD), stated, 'Anti-immigrant sentiment represents widespread frustration over a lack of opportunities, high living costs, and the loss of social status,' noting that 'reducing the number of immigrants will not immediately alleviate resentment toward them.'