Crimmigration in Europe

Borders have seemed to be a relic from the past across Europe for some decades now, and, apart from law enforcement officials, few people have expressed doubts with respect to this new era. In his 2010 paper entitled ‘Towards a Common European Border Security Policy’, Georgiev forecast future challenges for border security within the European Union (EU). Chief among these was the prediction of an increase in illegal or irregular migration into European territories arising chiefly from regional conflicts and failing or failed states. He speculated that mounting unrest in areas such as the Middle East would be a significant cause of increased ‘unwanted’ migration. Furthermore, Georgiev commented: ‘given the current difficulties of some Member States to manage and prevent illegal migration flows, the gap in capabilities and resources for addressing the future challenges is worrying’ (2010: 265). The current wave of mass migration – the largest and most visible since the Second World War – has thrown the international community into disarray. On top of existing worries about transnational crime, terrorist threats and the sustainability of national welfare state arrangements, the impact of this modern exodus has been acutely felt across Europe. Both mainstream media and European leaders have characterized the situation as a ‘crisis’, a ‘state of emergency’ and even ‘Europe’s meltdown’ (Daley, 2015; Foster, 2015; Graham-Harrison et al., 2015; Traynor, 2015). It has further exposed serious weaknesses in the EU’s governance and institutions that echo experiences of the financial crisis. The current situation has highlighted the continued existence of ‘two Europes’, that is, a division between North-Western and South-Eastern Europe and a wide gap between European ideals and citizens’ perceptions and fears. The culmination of these reactions to modern-day mass migration has been in stark contrast to European laws and policies, especially the principle of free movement of persons. The Schengen Agreement and the Dublin III Regulation – both cornerstones of European 639814 EUC0010.1177/1477370816639814European Journal of CriminologyEditorial editorial2017