MIGRATION CRISIS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

CHALLENGES, EUROPEAN SECURITY AND THE PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

Abstract

The EU was founded on economic integration, but it has expanded its areas of competence over the years. Institutions of the EU have also expanded their jurisdiction, while the promotion of peace and values common to the member states as well as creation of a space of freedom, security and justice have become fundamental values of the EU. Significant changes occurred also in the field of asylum policy. Informal cooperation in the 1970s has grown into an institutional one and resulted in creation of a common asylum system. The highlights of the migration crisis in 2015 showed all the shortcomings and pointed to the necessity of reforming the existing common asylum system. The paper shows the impact of migration movements towards the EU on the perception of its citizens on the key problems. Analyzing the ratio between the number of asylum applications submitted to the EU and the problems identified as key problems in EU by EU citizens proves the assumption that increase in migrant arrivals and the increase in the number of asylum applications in member states has contributed to the recognition of migration as a key problem.