THE MIGRATION IN THE LONGUE DUREE AND CURRENT PARTICULARITIES IN THE EU WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ITS MEDITERANEAN MEMBER STATES

In the context of this study, we shall attempt to understand migration by examining its theoretical aspect and the totality of its actions by means of the longue durée (long duration) theory of the Annales school of thought. We shall focus on the timelessness of the phenomenon and the current situation in the EU, with special reference to its southern member states. For the purposes of credibility of this approach and to comprehend what is really happening in the EU nowadays and how the latter handles politically the phenomenon of migration, we need to examine as many aspects of it as possible using an interdisciplinary approach of the specific historical, social and economic parameters, and their various collateral political connections. The holistic longue durée approach of the connection between migration and nation-state building process is a useful method of understanding modern European realities. In this context, we will examine the extent to which the structure of societies may fundamentally change, in relation to the inseparable concepts of nation and state. Human experience shows that migration had a significant impact on the rise of nations and that it was crucial in creating new identities. The above interconnections will be examined with special reference to the Mediterranean countries of Europe (being today the southern member-states of the EU), and their current views and positions.