ABSTRACT
In the last decade, migration-related issues have become increasingly important in the public and political debate within the European Union (EU). This has happened mainly because a rising inflow of migrants from different backgrounds, and for various reasons, have begun challenging the image that many European societies had hitherto had of themselves as—in many respects—nonimmigrant countries. The fact that, in the last 20 years, all member countries of the former EU15, as well as most of the new member states, have effectively become net immigrant countries has caused vigorous public debate on how to deal with and manage migration movements to the EU. Moreover, the issue of migration has also gained significant purchase at the political level of the EU with the coming into force of the Amsterdam Treaty in May 1999, when issues related to visas, asylum, immigration and external borders came under the jurisdiction of the European Community. The events of September 11, 2001 also mark a significant turning point, as they induced the EU governments to strengthen both their external and internal controls. As a result, there has been a growing tendency in European public and political debates to view migration as a security threat.
