The haunting of the "Old Continent"

This is the second fatal knife attack in Germany in the past week, extending the list of violent attacks in crowded places that have occurred in European countries recently.

Apart from the latest attack, which was determined to be non-terrorist, previous incidents have been linked to extremists.

Notably, information about the perpetrators' immigration origins has reignited long-standing debates about controlling immigration, which is increasing again in the "Old Continent".

With far-right parties with anti-immigration ideologies rising strongly in countries in the region, new developments once again put European governments in front of the problem of ensuring security and social security while still fulfilling international obligations and responsibilities.

The stabbing death of three children in the English town of Southport in late July could be seen as the start of a recent spate of serious violence involving immigrants in Europe.

The incident sparked a wave of violence and riots from both the anti-immigrant and pro-immigration sides. Within a week of July 30, around 60 far-right and anti-far-right protests broke out in a series of major cities across the UK, with many turning into riots as extremists attacked police, burned down asylum seeker accommodation facilities, surrounded mosques and looted shops. More than 100 police officers were injured and more than 1,000 people were arrested, of whom 200 appeared in court and received sentences.

The riots in the UK have just calmed down, but the stabbing that killed 3 people and injured 8 others at a street festival in Solingen (Germany) on August 23 has fueled anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe, as the perpetrator was identified as a Syrian who had sworn allegiance to the self-proclaimed "Islamic State" (IS) terrorist group.

Immediately after the attack in Solingen, the leader of the opposition in the Bundestag, Friedrich Merz, asked Chancellor Olaf Scholz to "coordinate quickly and without further delay decisions to effectively prevent further terrorist attacks".

Mr Merz called on Chancellor Scholz to make tough changes to immigration laws - if necessary by voting through parliament without having to negotiate with his coalition partners.

Recent developments show that anti-immigration sentiment is still simmering in European countries, and only one violent incident can ignite the fire. Anti-immigrant sentiment is the driving force behind millions of people voting for Britain to leave the European Union (EU) and the Conservative government pushing ahead with plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda…

Or in the European elections this past summer, the far-right created a wave that swept through many countries, with France being the most prominent case when the far-right force came close to winning the parliamentary elections thanks to votes from xenophobic voters who opposed immigration.

In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), known for its anti-immigration stance, is also on track to become the strongest party in the legislative elections scheduled for September 1 in the states of Saxony and Thuringia, with around 30% of the vote in polls. For years, the AfD’s calls for a tougher immigration policy have been welcomed by many, especially in the eastern states.

It is not difficult to explain the discontent with immigrants in Europe. In Britain, the previous government's decision to provide asylum seekers with accommodation at a cost of up to £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) last year caused a wave of strong protests, in the context of the British people suffering from a lack of housing, deteriorating infrastructure, weak public services, especially overloaded health and education services, economic stagnation, and a cost of living crisis with record high inflation.

According to the YouGov poll, two-thirds of respondents said that "immigration policies in recent years" were partly to blame for the new riots, along with the fear of violence and insecurity from extremists who are immigrants.

French statistics show that the crime rate of illegal immigrants is particularly high, around 50% in major cities such as Paris, Marseille or Lyon. Recent polls show that around 80% of French people over the age of 50 think the government has failed to deal with immigration, while the rate is only slightly lower among younger people. Around 67% of French people want the government to have tougher immigration policies in the context of economic difficulties and a series of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. The far right has used this topic to attract voters and gain a higher position in French and European politics.

Although the migrant issue has contributed to the complexity of the security situation in Europe, the direct and absolute connection between the attacks and migrants is a stereotype. In addition, the strong development of social media has also had a great impact on public opinion, both positively and negatively, typically the case of false information spreading on social media about the suspect in the attack in the UK that sparked a wave of riots. These factors will in turn make it difficult for immigrants, especially young people, to integrate, thereby creating opportunities for extremist groups to exploit. This vicious cycle makes it difficult to eliminate suspicion and vigilance towards immigrants in Europe.

After nearly a decade, the migrant crisis continues to haunt Europe, especially in the context of many other regions in the world still being devastated by war and conflict. On one side is the international humanitarian responsibility, on the other side is the obligation to ensure national security and stability - this is still a headache for governments and cannot be solved overnight. Countries need comprehensive solutions, including strengthening security, supporting migrants' integration, fighting extremism and building a more united society.

In October 2023, after years of wrangling, the EU reached a bloc-wide agreement on managing migrants and refugees, allowing countries to share the burden. Last April, the European Parliament approved the agreement, called the European Compact on Asylum and Migration.

European countries are currently strengthening their external border controls, notably through the expansion of the role of Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency). At the same time, Europe is also actively concluding agreements with non-EU countries, such as Turkey and several North African countries, to stem the flow of migrants.

Repatriation policy has also received more attention, with increased repatriation measures for migrants who are not eligible to stay.

In addition, some European countries have revised their laws to reduce immigration and increase surveillance, reflecting a shift in their approach to migration. But to achieve a better outcome, the EU still needs the will, resources and a common foreign policy – ​​something the bloc has not been able to do because many member states still put their own interests first.