This article critically review policies adopted by different countries of southern Europe (Italy, Spain and Greece) to manage irregular migration, in order to demonstrate that, to reduce this type of immigration, it will need more than just stricter controls at the borders. Both voters and experts should question the speeches of politicians and the media which speaks of “avalanche” or “waves” of irregular migrants through the external borders of the EU and that lead them to consider the possibility of adopting, or directly, adopt tougher border control measures as main way of effectively combating irregular immigration.

Published:

Real Instituto Elcano

Publication Year:

2010

Author(s):

Anna Triandafyllidou, Professor at the European University Institute (IUE) Florence and principal analyst at the Hellenic Foundation for European politics and foreign (ELIAMEP) of Athens

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