Violence in Great Britain and the Balkans: The return of the border control

Selim Ibraimi- While the Balkan countries continue with some superficial reforms, the violence in Great Britain (UK) has raised fears in Europe and the Balkans that such great hatred could extinguish the dreams not only of the EU but also of the Balkan states. Northern Kosovo, fragility in North Macedonia and Bosnia continue to keep the future of the region unclear. Events in the UK may spread to other EU countries. Feelings against foreigners are growing, and life, work, and education in such an environment become difficult, especially for refugees and other communities where standards in a society poisoned by impatience become invisible. Living in a harsh atmosphere of permanent prejudice and hatred with social and geopolitical problems makes cohesion between communities a mission impossible. The current situation of the EU and UK has one more explanation. It has an early source of conflict of the first generations settled in the UK from its colonial world, from the former communist bloc, from the Middle Eastern refugees, and finally with the seasonal workers who create a complex web of interests without any standard for life and competition. The continuous pressure on the EU after 1991 and 2000 has come from the former Yugoslav republics. For our readers, it is important to single out the relations between the EU and the Balkans, where as a result of the lack of a long-term connection with the mindset of the people of the Balkans, relations in the last three decades have been put to the test several times, as the efforts of the EU- for the Balkan region to become part of the union by 2030, have encountered obstacles from the Balkan states themselves. In the context of prejudice, where in addition to street violence, and unbearable life in the urban cities of Europe, some states to maintain order and security, are very likely to go to the phase of tightening border control measures. Critics of the EU’s liberal policies say that the union should set laws to maintain peace within states. The violence in the UK and the rise of radicalism in EU countries are forcing Brussels to review the establishment of border controls as a preventive measure against unrestricted immigration. A crisis may soon arise in the Balkans, with refugees arriving from the Far East. In a major continental crisis, neither the EU nor the countries of the NATO bloc can maintain a cohesive coordinated approach, starting from within states and across the borders of member and non-member states. It does not take much analysis to conclude that the border security of the EU, the UK, and the Balkan states has been put to the test. In short, the Schengen Area is on the verge of collapse, unless the old border regime is strengthened or reversed. The border fence of Poland and Hungary, together with the strict measures of Greece since 2014, have not given visible effects in preventing illegal migration as a way to prevent other negative phenomena within European countries. The EU has tried to have a collective approach, but it seems that the member countries of the union themselves want to take matters of border and security into their own hands. The tightening of borders has not been well received by liberals in the EU, who have seen the move as prioritizing national sovereignty over EU sovereignty. However, even so, it does not, as the EU cannot manage borders on a large scale, let alone influence member states despite the presence of Frontex. In the EU, we have a competition between political currents that want to give more priority to the role of the union and those that want to express national sovereignty. In such a race, many other immigration policies have fallen by the wayside, not seeing the downside of creating new ghettos. The war between liberal and conservative groups has undoubtedly had an impact on the Balkans as well, keeping alive the complicated history of the region, and keeping ethnic and religious differences alive. Keeping this topic hot, there is certainly very little room for respect for human rights in the context of foreigners in the Balkans and beyond. As the violence in the UK continues, and the situation is not so good in Kosovo and Bosnia, the restoration of border control as before is turning into a national emergency as never before. The internal crisis in the UK also revealed an “old rift between EU states, which have defended the sharing of responsibilities in the name of human rights, and former communist bloc states that have resisted in the name of sovereignty.” Also, the EU’s approach to the planning and integration of immigrants is moving very slowly. Fears of the spread of violence in the EU have long been seen by officials as the worst-case scenario that could happen to the EU and others. The establishment of strict border control at sea and on land is becoming a necessity. The Schengen area has a preventive role, but not as effective as it seems. The desire for a united Europe and the demands for more national sovereignty of the EU states are increasing, with border control which is also a part of national security.

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