In Between the Domestic and the Supranational: Explaining the Lack of Harmonization of Eu Labor Immigration Policy

There are many attempts coming from EU institutions aiming at harmonizing EU labor immigration policy. These efforts have faced many blockages from EU member states and a common labor immigration policy does not exist. The main question this thesis attempts to answer is why there is no common economic immigration policy at EU level in spite of the benefits this could bring. The main hypothesis is that member states are the key players in deciding whether a policy will be harmonized at the EU level or whether it will remain under the sovereignty of national executives. This study discusses important aspects of labor immigration policy at the member states? domestic sphere and at EU level. As the thesis aims to disclose the role of EU member states in the harmonization process of labor immigration policy, a Liberal Intergovernmentalist framework analysis is employed. This thesis concludes that it is EU member states who are the main actors driving the EU integration process. There is a great diversity across states on labor immigration policy and the importance labor immigration poses for EU members, as yet they have not agreed upon a common policy.