Discourses about irregularised migrants at the EU level

This I-CLAIM report examines how irregularised migration is framed at the EU level across the European Commission, the European Parliament, and EU civil society. Using both quantitative and qualitative analysis, the report reveals diverse approaches and thematic differences across different topics, including border control, rights, employment, gender, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, returns and ‘crisis’ narratives.

Based on the collected data sample, the Commission’s narratives largely emphasise policy, control, and regulated migration pathways, with frequent focus on border security and return processes. The Parliament’s discourse varies by political group, ranging from rights-based approaches to security-focused and/or crime-focused rhetoric. In contrast, civil society prioritises human rights concerns, often challenging securitised framings and advocating for more inclusive policies.

Through comparative insights, the report identifies both convergences and unique aspects of each EU actor’s stance and narratives and how they are developed in connection to different topics of interest for the I-CLAIM project. A longer and more detailed version of this Report will be available on the CEPS website.