Guilty until proven refugee? The EU’s crisis of identity,not capacity / ¿Culpable hasta que se demuestre que es refugiado? La crisis de identidad de la UE,no de capacidad

Abstract

The EU, often portrayed as a defender of human rights, applies starkly unequal refugee policies, reinforcing racial and geopolitical hierarchies. This paper critiques the selective solidarity that welcomes Ukrainian refugees as victims of occupation while framing MENA refugees as security threats or economic burdens. These double standards are rooted in colonial legacies, geopolitical interests and media narratives that shape public perception and policy. Using Critical Race Theory and Framing Theory, the paper examines how systemic biases obscure the EU’s complicity in conflicts that drive displacement. It calls for dismantling racialized hierarchies, holding European actors accountable for their role in sustaining displacement and integrating equity into migration governance to uphold true international protection.