The Lisbon Treaty (2007) has spelled out the values of the Union, namely
respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law,
respect for human rights, including rights of persons belonging to minorities.
They are said to be common to the Member States in a society characterized
by pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and gender
equality (Article 2 TEU). These values are now part of the identity of the Union.
The definition of the European values and principles is the result of permanent
evolution. Indeed, the European construction was initially exclusively on an economic
level. Thus, the Treaty of Rome (1957) referred only to «the safeguards of
peace and freedom». But in the European Single Act (1986) the Member States
declared themselves «determined to promote democracy together on the basis
of fundamental rights».
The management of migratory flows is the great challenge of the 21st century.
The principle of freedom to move and reside in the European Union for the
European citizens is one of the cornerstones of European integration. However,
this facilitation of human movements is an optical illusion: it concerns above all
human flows intra-Western and applies only very weakly to movements from
South to North. The EU cannot remain a spectator of geopolitical upheavals, nor
remain unmoved by the multiplication of tragedies on its doorstep. However, the
European migration policies currently in place seem unable to respond to the
migratory crisis, contributing more to the multiplication of tragedies at sea and
to the violations of the fundamental rights of men and women seeking refuge in
Europe to their decrease. While the European Commission has adopted a new
approach based on the aim of giving a new impetus to European migration policy,
it seems important to focus on current policies in order to better understand
the objectives defined by the Commission.
