While the logic of securitisation has been shaping policy in the European Union for some time, border control has attained more central prominence in the last decade. The proposed 2028-2034 budgetary framework includes €15.4 billion for border management and €11.9 billion for the European border control agency Frontex which has significantly expanded in competencies, staffing and resourcing since 2019. In the most tangible sense the “hardening” of European border policies is evident in the fortification of European borders. This report examined arms industry lobbying for enhanced border security measures and its success in capturing research funding. Research indicates that border fortification causes significant economic, social and ecological harm without substantially enhancing security.

Source: Irish Examiner March 26, 2026 01:17 UTC