EU Facing Challenges: Migrants and Relations with Superpowers – Quo Vadis Europe after European Elections in 2019
EU Facing Challenges: Migrants and Relations with Superpowers – Quo Vadis Europe after European Elections in 2019

Author(s): Gordana Gasmi
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Migration Studies, Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
Published by: Институт друштвених наука
Keywords: EU future; migrants; Parliament; European elections
Summary/Abstract: Analysis of the European Union’s (EU) future seems to get encouraging assessments despite Brexit and current challenges, such as migrants, terrorism, sustainable economic growth, relations with superpowers and climate change. Good news for decreasing the existing democratic deficit in the Union is the fact that the turnout of voters at European elections (2019) was over 50 percent for the first time in decades. Furthermore, the most recent polls show that 68% of Europeans deem that their country benefits from EU membership. It is the highest score seen since 1983. The outcome of those EU citizens’ positive sentiments is the fact that the Eurosceptics, nationalist right parties, divided into two groups, do not have great influence in the new Parliament. Why is it so important to analyze European elections for the future of the Union? The answer lies in the significant role of the European Parliament in the overall institutional structure and in the decision-making process of the EU. However, citizens of the EU Member States have very high expectations related to more effective EU policies in the control of immigration. The complexity of the migrant crisis is also complemented by the mix of economic migrants with war refugees. Is it on the international scene “Europe - Fortress” or Europe without borders, remains to be seen through the solution of the migrant crisis in the upcoming mid-term period. Another vital determinant item for the future of the EU represents its relations with superpowers: USA, China and Russia. The vital question of the future positive development of the Union depends on the EU’s capacity to make effective decisions, both on the external political agenda, and even more internally in terms of stimulating economic growth and sustainable development, as well as to build an effective migration and asylum policy.

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