Migration and security in Europe after the Madrid bombings

Abstract

The terrorist acts of 11 March 2004 in Madrid have carried radical Islamist terrorism right inside the EU. The attack, which came almost three years after the events of 9/11 in the United States and followed a series of heinous terrorist acts in developing countries, has killed 198 people and transformed the security agenda of Europe profoundly and persistently. This article looks at some implications of the new security agenda for EU migration and integration policies. The paper first highlights the limited impact that all immediately feasible security measures taken in the field of immigration and border control, such as the inclusion of biometric data in travel documents, could possibly have in the struggle against terrorism. It then argues that, seen in the broader context of social cohesion and security, European countries must urgently direct their attention towards engaging their Muslim immigrant communities with a view to their inclusion and social integration in our societies. Regarding its external dimension, the EU must make clear that it is not conceived as a «Christian Club» and that its final shape will not end along the borders of European Christianity. This includes opening membership negotiations with Turkey in good faith and engaging the Arab world in a constructive dialogue, including a dialogue on migration challenges.