Justification of the choice of topic*
The European Commission for the period 2019-2024 prioritized the promotion and the protection of European citizens way of life and values by appointing a Commissioner with a dedicated portfolio covering four policy areas: migration, security, employment and education. The fact that migration was included in the tasks of the new Commissioner gave rise to a debate between European politicians, journalists and citizens and led to division and political conflicts. At the same time, triggered an intense scientific debate between researchers and scholars and has led to very contradictory conclusions which are crucial in the political and societal agenda of Europe.
Research question*
Why is migration included by European Commission in the policies that affecting ‘European values and way of life’?
Theoretical framework or approach*
(Approach, concept, theory that will frame the research (about 5 lines)
The hypothesis will be tested from a public policy perceptive, not only through the main institutional actors’ interests and motivations, but also through their ideas, beliefs and values which affects their perception about migration. One the one hand, Vice-President’s for Promoting European Way of Life (EWOL) policies and public discourses, is the dependent variable around which the hypothesis is being built. On the other hand, European Union’s inclusive political approach concerning migration is the correlated independent variable which we will try to understand if is actually being served by these policies.
Hypothesis(ses)*
European Union’s inclusive political approach concerning migration had led to Vice-President’s for Promoting European Way of Life policies towards integration, inclusion and participation of newcomers with a migrant background.
Case selection or fieldwork*
Specify the nature and number of cases selected or fieldwork, as well as the temporal and geographical scope of the research; Justify these choices (3-5 lines)
The total number of cases will include European Commission’s official policy documents regarding migration and relative Commissioner’s Schinas public discourses in an effort to prove if they are aiming in further integration and a more inclusive approach concerning migration in Europe. In terms of temporal dimension, official documents, press releases, oral and written discourses and legislative committees’ preparative discussions and documents will be observed in several points of time during the last four years (2019-2023).
Data collection method*
Specify the nature of the data to be collected for the research, as well as the proposed data collection method(s); Justify these choices (3-5 lines)
The data collection method will include official EU documents and discourses gathering, combined with tracing of the policies implementation. The indicators of EU action and policies about migration will be concrete legislative results of each year, as well as results of content analysis of official documents or official meeting transcripts.
As far as concerns, the indicators of Commissioner’s official documents, press releases, oral and written discourses will be categorized and analyzed regarding if they have a positive or negative narrative concerning migration.
Data analysis method*
Specify the proposed data analysis method; Justify this choice (3-5 lines).
The hypothesis will be empirical tested by corelating European Union’s inclusive political approach concerning migration with the actual Commission’s political and legislative results and with the public discourses of the Commissioner responsible for Promoting EWOL. The number of the documents will be relatively small and as a result an in-depth qualitative analysis will be operated. The main goal of the process will be to examine if the European Commission’s policy and narrative are towards an inclusive or an exclusive/conservative political approach regarding migration. The analysis will be held in the basis that European Union Institutional representatives acted as rational actors according to the interests they represent.
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
2.1. Defining European way of life
2.2. European Identity
2.3. European Union migration policy
3. Theoretical Framework
3.1. Research Question
3.2 Theoretical Framework
3.4. Hypothesis
4. Methodological Framework
4.1. Research design and methodology
4.2. Data collection method
4.3. Data analysis method
5. Public discourses analysis
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Commissioner’s press releases
5.3. Commissioner’s speeches
6. Policies analysis
6.1. Introduction
6.2. New Pact on Migration and Asylum legal paths
6.3. New Strategy on Schengen Area
7. Conclusion