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« 2025. # 3 (183)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2025. № 3 (183), 674—680

UDK 94:[32(44):341.43-054.72:314.15-044.372(430)](4-6ЄС) “20”

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

THE REACTION OF THE FRENCH POLITICIANS TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF GERMANY FROM THE DUBLIN REGULATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MIGRATION CRISIS 2015—2016

SYPKO Bogdana

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3136-9340 
  • Candidate of History, Associate Professor 
  • The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, 
  • Department of Modern World History, 
  • 1, Universytetska str., 79000, Lviv, Ukraine, 
  • Contacts: е-mail: bogdanasypko@gmail.com

Abstract. Introduction. The migration crisis of 2015—2016 posed a serious challenge for the European Union. Faced with millions of refugees trying to find refuge on the European continent, countries had to quickly react to the new reality and look for a way out of the situation.

Problem Statement. Germany’s decision in the summer of 2015 to abandon the Dublin Regulation and accept about a million refugees surprised even its strategic partner, France.

Purpose is to find out, based on official documents and transcripts of statements by French politicians, what was the reaction of the Republic to Germany’s temporary refusal to comply with the Dublin Regulation, as well as to explain the reasons for the differences in French approaches to resolving the migration crisis.

Methods. The general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as special scientific comparative-historical and chronological methods are used in the work. The author adheres to the principle of historicism. 

Results. The migration crisis demonstrated the difference in interests between Paris and Berlin. In Germany, it was perceived as a «refugee crisis», in France as a «migration crisis». In the first case, the humanitarian dimension of the problem was emphasized. In addition, Germany, which suffered from an aging population, saw young migrants and children as prospects for further economic development. In contrast, France in 2015 suffered from the Islamist threat, and therefore assessed security risks first of all. Until August 2015, there was a consensus between France and Germany on the need to comply with the Dublin Regulation. Realizing that France would limit itself to statements, Germany on August 25, 2015 canceled the operation of this regulation for itself and pledged not to return Syrian refugees to the country of entry into the EU. However, faced with a huge immigration wave, Berlin reinstated the Dublin Regulation.

Conclusion. French politics, with the exception of the far-right National Front, which sharply criticized German actions, took a restrained position on the actions of A. Merkel. However, despite expressing general words of support and even admiration for German courage, the French authorities were only ready to accept 120 thousand Syrians according to the quotas provided by the European Commission. Therefore, Germany’s decision to return to compliance with the Dublin Regulation in October 2015 was welcomed in France.

Keywords: Dublin regulation, European Union, immigration, integration, Germany, migration crisis, France.

Received 8.05.2025

REFERENCES

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