Different Starting Points: Why Immigration in the EU Is Not About Privilege

The discussion around immigration in the European Union is often conducted under the assumption that immigrants begin their journey from the same place. In other words, they are often portrayed in discussions and debates as people who had all the means and opportunity to choose Europe as a better option for them. It becomes an inaccurate assumption that immigration is a privilege for those who can afford it.

Diverse reasons can lead to immigration, such as moving to study or work, family reunion, or people who move abroad only because it is no longer secure in their own countries. The idea of immigration being a “privilege” fails to acknowledge all of this and oversimplifies the situation. It perpetuates the notion of having to prove how useful or successful an immigrant is in order to be in the host country. Studies on the policies of integration in the European Union have shown that equal treatment does not always lead to equal opportunities in the end. For example, Huddleston & Vink (2015) have emphasized the need for policies such as “training for non-EU workers, as well as more targeted education policies for immigrant pupils, especially strong intercultural education programmes and strong support to access the education system” (Huddleston & Vink, 2015: 10). That is why these measures must be well considered so that migrants can adapt more quickly to their new environment and the local population, as people do not initially have equal opportunities or support systems. These are not special treatment systems, but support systems designed to reduce structural inequality. The same study also revealed that countries that are more inclusive are also likely to be more committed to the concept of equality. Huddleston and Vink (2015) observe that:

“States with more inclusive naturalisation laws also tend to have stronger anti-discrimination laws on the grounds of race/ethnicity, religion, and nationality, as well as stronger enforcement mechanisms for these laws.” (p. 10) It is important to note that the concept of inclusion is not about providing greater access to certain individuals, but about providing equal access to all individuals. Regardless of this reality, political narratives tend to frame things differently. Instead of recognising complexity, political elites tend to simplify migration policy in terms of deserving and undeserving immigrants. Barbulescu et al. (2023) report how political elites have reinforced binary categorisations of insider/outsider in terms of an immigration hierarchy of migrants who are ‘like us,’ ‘wanted,’ and ‘unwanted,’ primarily based on ‘the added value of incomers to a given territory and society’ (p. 91). Such a logic makes immigrants compete and makes a sense of belonging something to be “earned.” These structures are problematic as they ignore the experiences of immigrants in the EU. They also create the impression that immigrant individuals who face difficulties deserve less, while those who achieve their goals quickly deserve more. Such beliefs lead to discrimination against immigrants, particularly through the spread of false information on the internet, where stereotypes of immigrants dominate discussions. They also lead to the division of communities. 

Recognising that immigrants begin their journeys from different starting points does not mean ignoring laws or systems, but rather challenges the notion that immigration is a reward rather than a human right in a globalised world. It also highlights the fact that many policies and systems need improvement, increased efficiency, and the development of new policies. Democracy is strongest when we acknowledge the inequalities that exist between us and work to reduce them, rather than pretending that we are all in the same situation. Ultimately, immigration to the EU should be discussed not based on privilege, but on the basis of fairness. People immigrate with different resources, experiences, and problems. The first step toward honest discussion and debate is recognising this fact.

References

Alarian, H. M. (2023). Immigrant Economic Rights in the European Union. IMISCOE Research Series, 71–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25726-1_5

Barbulescu, R. (2023). Revising the Integration-Citizenship Nexus in Europe. In IMISCOE research series. Springer Nature Link. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25726-1

Huddleston, T., & Vink, M. P. (2015a). Full membership or equal rights? The link between naturalisation and integration policies for immigrants in 29 European states. Comparative Migration Studies, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-015-0006-7

Huddleston, T., & Vink, M. P. (2015b). Full membership or equal rights? The link between naturalisation and integration policies for immigrants in 29 European states. Comparative Migration Studies, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-015-0006-7