Introduction

Abstract

This chapter presents an introduction to this book. The migration crisis hit hard at the EU’s core but the response adopted by the Union and its Member States did not meet the standards of the principles of solidarity and the safeguard of human rights. What has to be done to overcome the constraints of Europe’s migration crisis? This chapter introduces the main questions to be addressed in this work, through an analysis of the EU’s policies and two case studies: Spain and Italy. Should the deterrence strategy be the primary dimension of an immigration management model in the EU’s southern border? Also, is it possible to find a balance in border management between control and management without jeopardising migrants’ human rights?