Abstract
Article 14 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution". Europe has always attracted migrants and asylum seekers because it benefits from a reputation of high standards of living and as the birth place of the human rights.
Today, Europe harbors approximately 1,612,000 refugees and 240,000 asylum seekers. Due to these facts, Europe had a great influence in the development of Refugee and Asylum law.
The period of 2001-2004 has been critical for refugees and asylum seekers. With the increase and the unpredictability of the arrivals, the European Union (EU) has been focused on implementing measures to restrict the entry of such refugees. Those restriction measures has resulted in the gradual creation of what is now called "Fortress Europe". This appellation covers the fact that it is getting harder for asylum seekers to enter member states of the EU to escape persecution.
The ability of the EU to provide protection guarantees is questioned while it seems that a restrictive approach is being adopted in EU member states as part of a chain reaction throughout Western Europe.
Is it appropriate to consider that the current EU asylum and refugee policy fostered the conditions to create a "Fortress Europe"?
The current asylum policy in the 21st century focuses on rejection of refugees. These kinds of restrictions have become the common trend.
