‘FORTRESS EUROPE’
TANTALIZES ASYLUM SEEKERS
ELIZABETH JAMES AND EUGENE JAMES
Europe evokes the notion of lifestyle, health and prosperity. The ‘old continent’ has become a hallmark of peace on the planet in the course of the last six decades. European integration has notably fostered political stability and continuity in terms of governance. The founders of the ‘E.U’ introduced particular institutions that tackled cross border issues in order to facilitate economic activity, trade and especially to rule out the likelihood of another war. The integration process has proven very successful with instances such as the establishment of particular commissions that address issues within an area of expertise, the creation of a European Court of Justice, the setup of a Council of Ministers and a European Parliament and various other institutions. Integration has contributed to a standardization of norms across Europe that implies that each member state follows a similar code of conduct. In other words, each member state carries out an action that is aligned to European Union policy and regulation.
The consolidation of the Union proceeded through the economic channel and gradually it encompassed the realm of politics and the judiciary system. By and large, the economic sector has played the most vital role in integration and it probably accounts for the lion’s share of the success. Business, trade and lately the single currency contribute to the strength of the European Union and they maintain cohesion. The citizens of the European Union have immensely benefi ted from integration in different ways, whether in terms of security, welfare or freedom. Indeed, integration has enabled Europe to rapidly recover from the Second World War. The process is ongoing and it renders Europe an attractive destination to whosoever aspires to high standards of living in general.
Membership carries many fundamental implications other than the one referred above. In particular, the members of the Union adhere to the ‘Schengen area’ that guarantees absolute freedom of movement to the citizens of every member state. This measure is the cornerstone of the Schengen Agreement that has an impact on several dimensions of European territorial governance. At a practical level, the agreement affects migration patterns and the labour market, to name only the core areas. At a conceptual level, the agreement affects the legal standards of member states and the conduct towards human rights.
Europe is at the crossroad of Asia and Africa and the member states of the European Union are more developed than neighbouring countries in Asia and Africa. This state of affairs nourishes a desire and willingness in inhabitants from other parts of the world to embark on a journey that leads them towards the gates of the European Union in the search of a better living. In effect, the ongoing arrival of such people hastened E.U. member states to craft processes that manage the fl ow of asylum seekers. In various instances the infl ux stems from the existence of a crisis in a particular region of the world that is related to confl ict, climate degradation or economic hardship. In many cases, asylum seekers are vulnerable and they are fearful to return to their homes. Their decision to leave bears witness to the fact they are desperate to realize their hopes especially when one considers the fact that they leave so much behind them, i.e. families, friends, property and status.