Euroscepticism: Migration and the Challenge to European Solidarity

Euroscepticism among European citizens has increased in the last years. Primarily, the financial crisis in association to a subsequent political crisis and a pre-existent democratic communication deficit of the EU, have nourished extreme attitudes in many member states. On the other hand, international developments such as the numerous migration flows from Asia and Africa to EU countries have aggravated euroscepticism and have questioned the fundamental priorities of member states’ solidarity. Many countries follow their own political decisions ignoring the EU efforts to shape a common policy regarding the new migration waves in the summer of 2015. It seems that in times of economic and political uncertainty, national interests and national policies tend to prevail and be sustained by larger parts of the population.

Nowadays extreme right wing parties appeal to citizens because they nourish all kind of prejudices, fears (racism, anti-immigrants’ stances) and rage against the marginalization of broad social strata. Some parties, in close relation to fascism theories, sustain an anti-European political program that is based on national purity and xenophobia. The migration issue tends to become a major challenge for the future integration of the EU and members mutual solidarity. 

This paper aims to analyze publications adopting a Eurosceptic approach and been published during April – September 2015 in two national newspapers in Greece, Italy, Germany and France. The aim is to present common arguments and scopes of parties’ political stance regarding migration flows and a common EU policy. Adequate frames will be created intending to point out similarities, differences and intentions to shape a common EU policy towards migration. Regarding the monitoring of news items we will use a combination of framing and content analysis.