Migration in the European Union: Pandora's box impossible to close?

Abstract

Migration in the European Union (EU) has emerged as a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that challenges the continent's political, social, and economic structures. The title of this paper reflects the inherently conflictual and intractable nature of this phenomenon. Since the 2015 migration crisis, the EU has attempted to implement common policies that balance security and the protection of human rights. However, efforts have been fragmented and, in many cases, counterproductive. Outsourcing migration control to third countries has proven to be a costly and ineffective strategy, with negative humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.

Migration in the EU is not only a logistical or political challenge, but also an ethical and humanitarian one. Migration was decisive in Brexit and therefore could constitute an irreparable rift in the EU. This phenomenon must be prioritized further and addressed through a profound reflection on the EU's fundamental values and a renewed commitment to international cooperation, social justice, and respect for human dignity, because Old Europe also needs migrants for its very survival. An important advance is the Directive (EU) 2024/1233, on a single permit, which will undoubtedly represent an important advance in harmonizing the regulation of non-EU foreigners and, without a doubt, a simplification of bureaucracy.