Europe Facing International Human Mobility: Debating the Challenges of Eu Migration and Asylum Policy

Abstract This paper examines the complex challenges of the European Union's migration and asylum policies in the context of demographic decline and international human mobility. The objective is to analyze the tension between Europe's need for migration to address an aging population and labor shortages, and the restrictive policy responses driven by hostile public opinion and political polarization. Using qualitative policy analysis and a review of institutional data, the study evaluates the evolution of EU border management and the structural failures of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) exposed during the 2015-2016 refugee crisis. The main results indicate that despite the obvious demographic need for migrants, the EU has increasingly prioritized border externalization and security over solidarity and capacity-sharing. The paper discusses the implications of the recent EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, highlighting potential compromises to human rights. The study concludes that the "great omission" of cohesive immigrant integration policies threatens social cohesion, and the EU must reaffirm its foundational principles of solidarity and human rights to secure the future of European integration.