The immigration policies of EU member states: adaptation in relation to the refugee crisis

Abstract

The thesis is aimed at studying the policies of EU member states in response to the refugee crisis that affected Europe in 2015. The work aims to establish the links between an increase in the number of immigrants and asylum seekers to a change in perception towards the phenomena making the domestic EU populations more sceptical about accepting more immigrants and asylum seekers. This negative inclination towards immigrants is further correlated to an alteration in laws and policies to limit immigration. The work studied the cases of Germany, Sweden, Italy and the Czech Republic and found that the formulated hypotheses are correct and that indeed an increase in the number of immigrants and asylum seekers on EU territory leads to higher concern among the domestic populations leading to a negative public opinion which is then reflected in laws and policies aimed at limiting the movement of foreigners into their territories.