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« 2025. # 2 (182)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2025. № 2 (182), 388—396

UDK 94:[327.57/.58:314.15](44:430:4-672ЄС) “20”(09)

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

FRANCO-GERMAN COOPERATION IN THE CONTEXT OF LOBBYING THE EUROPEAN PACT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM 2008

SYPKO Bogdana

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3136-9340 
  • Candidate of History, docent, 
  • 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. France and FRG have been postulating themselves as a kind of «engine of Europe». The leaders of two states, regardless of their political affiliation, were convinced that without a Franco-German consensus, the harmonious development of EU was impossible, so they tried to coordinate their positions on key issues. 

Problem Statement. The challenge for the EU at the beginning of the 21st century was to coordinate migration policy. Therefore, the joint Franco-German declaration of January 22, 2003, included a clause stating that the parties sought common EU approaches to asylum and immigration.

Purpose is on the basis of official documents, statements by French officials, as well as materials from a special Franco-German seminar dedicated to developing common approaches to migration policy, held on March 27, 2008, to analyze how France relied on German support in the context of lobbying for the adoption of European Pact on Immigration and Asylum (2008).

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 practical implementation of these statements was initiated by N. Sarkozy, who, in the context of scaling up French migration initiatives to the European level, relied on his German colleague W. Schäuble. Having become President, N. Sarkozy not only immediately created a specialized Ministry, but also on his first day in office paid a visit to Berlin to enlist Germany’s support for the previously prepared Pact. The preparation for the adoption of this document was carried out by Minister B. Hortefeux. At all stages, France was actively supported by Germany.

Conclusion. On October 16, 2008, the Heads of State and Government of the 27 EU Member States unanimously adop ted the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, which included five key commitments: to organize legal immigration, to combat illegal migration, to strengthen the effectiveness of external border controls, to build a Europe of asylum, and to create a global partnership with countries of origin and transit. This was an extremely important political step, but it did not entail any specific legal obligations. Its shortcomings had already been demonstrated by the migration crisis of 2015—2016.

Keywords: European Union, immigration, integration, Germany, Brice Hortefeux, Nicolas Sarkozy, France.

Received 28.03.2025

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