Towards an EU Immigration Policy: between Emerging Supranational Principles and National Concerns

Given that borders control and the managing of migration flows are traditionally seen as the more-or-less exclusive preserve of the nation-state, the founding Treaties of the European Communities did not provide for any rule aimed at promoting supranational co-operation in these areas. As soon as the European Economic Community (EEC) evolved into the more cohesive European Union (EU), however, a gradual European-level involvement in establishing a common legal framework on the conditions of admission and stay of third country nationals and on the convergence of policies originally not covered by the Treaties occurred. Steps towards building a common EU approach to immigration do not, however, automatically meet the expectations and interests of national policies, which, in light of recent increases in immigration towards and across the EU countries, are often more concerned with limiting immigration and to putting limitations on who may enter and why than with adopting common solutions to common challenges. Against this backdrop, this paper presents empirical evidence from the cases of Italy and Germany of how national concerns and different views over integration of foreigners may cause opposition to the development of an effective EU immigration policy.