European Migration Policy Shifts From Open-Door to Border Controls
European nations have transitioned from welcoming asylum seekers in 2015 to implementing restrictive border fences and outsourcing asylum management over the last decade.
European migration policy has undergone a fundamental shift from the open-door approach of 2015 to a regime of restrictive border controls. In August 2015, Angela Merkel, then Chancellor of Germany, welcomed over one million people fleeing violence in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, asserting that Germany could manage the influx.
This stance later became a political liability, contributing to the rise of far-right parties across the European Union. In response, member states implemented stricter residency and family reunification laws, and some, such as Sweden, saw a transition from welcoming refugees to increased hostility. Other nations began outsourcing asylum management through deals with Turkey and Libya.
Hungary adopted one of the toughest stances in the region, erecting a 12-foot-high border fence and returning migrants without permission. While the Government of Hungary defends these measures as necessary for national stability, the European Union has imposed fines of one million euros per day on the country for breaching asylum obligations.
Despite these restrictive measures, the United Nations reports a continuing humanitarian crisis. Over the last ten years, more than 32,000 people have died attempting to reach Europe, amid a deluge of human rights abuses and criminal trafficking.
