The Immigration Policy of the European Union: Is There a Tension between National Citizenship and European Citizenship?

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Immigration has been considered as one of the most important issue in the European Union since 2000s. Under the Schenghen Agreement, the EU member states agreed on the free movement of people within the European Union. The European Union has been trying to develop a common immigration policy which can be applied to all the member states. The European Convention highlights European citizenship trying to protect the rights of immigrants within the EU territories. However, it seems that there is a tendency of emergence of far-right parties in Western and Northern Europe. This article deals with the factors which have influence on the tension between European citizenship and national citizenship that currently exists in the European Union. The cases of France, Italy, Sweden and Denmark will be added to help understand the concrete situation of immigration and citizenship policies in Europe.