The ‘Collateral Damage’ of Irregular Migration in the European Union

Abstract

Modern migration has become a timeless and volatile global phenomenon. Migration in Europe and more specifically the irregular movement of immigrants is high on the common European agenda, highlighting the importance of the phenomenon for the Member States of the European Union. Individual migration aspects such as the recent migration flows to Europe, national security and the efforts to protect the external borders of the European Union comprise the harsh picture of irregular migration that results in the loss of thousands of lives annually.