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The democratization processes during the Arab Spring brought with them the biggest migration crisis in Europe. Unprepared for such events, the EU continue to fail on its assimilation, integration and ultimately de-radicalization policies. This can be understandable in a way, given the fact that none of these countries were ever involved in offering a smoother transition to their migrants, nor had they interest in this regard.
The economic migrants that settled in a foreign country prior to that succeeded, or not, partly due to the cultural similarities and other aspects such as language skills and community, and mostly because of their survival instincts which led them to accept low paid jobs, long hours on duty and exploitation. This being the case of several Polish, Bulgarians and Romanians immigrants. Not because they would be the only one that emigrate, but because the other European side have been given for some reason another description term - expat. Yet, although, these nationals at a wider view seem to be well integrated into their new societies, the majority of them live in segregated communities, follow their own custom and have, eventually, the intention of returning to their home countries.
So how could such an inexperienced continent suddenly integrate millions that fled during conflict? Not only had they failed at it, the member states actually started to argue between each other on a completely misunderstood matter. The outcome, a ‘legitimate’ far right which have never been more prominent than in the previous years… except before the World War II.
When Awad embarked in 2013 for his trip to Europe, he surely did not know what to expect, but he was certain would find safety. Arriving on the shores of Italy in a tiny boat from Egypt, he would be welcomed with coldness by immigration officers that seemed as searching for radical remnants in every boy. The environment found proved to be a severe paradigm shift from his expectations. In the innocence of a 15 years old boy, without family around, he continued to view everything that happened around him as a blessing.
One year forward, Awad was granted asylum in Italy and, keen to obtain an income, started working in a farm from the South. But his dreams in building a life have been crushes when he ended up being exploited, beaten and without a salary. Cold, hungry and demoralized, he ‘responded’ one day to his employer abuses and this costed him the right to reside in the country. Since then, Awad wandered through the surrounding countries, requesting asylum in places as France and Luxembourg and, ultimately getting rejected from all of them. He was never counseled, supported and accepted by any society. Consequently, he developed an emotionally unstable personality known in psychology as BPD (borderline personality disorder) that made him more prone to anger. Thus, with some visible anger management issues, it was easier for him to be labelled as an unstable individual and at the same time to be criticized, marginalized, while searching for reasons to support the unquestioned views.
Would Awad leave the EU? – he did not. Will he be deported? – he was not. Will there be any country to welcome him – maybe or probably not? What will become of him – I don’t know! And, who is to blame for these disintegration policies? It is worth to remember that after all, upon his arrival Awad was as a grey canvas waiting to be drawn. For all these, and more, it was easier to blame him!
Note: The name has been changed to protect the privacy of individual.
