REPRESSION OR PROTECTION? The European Migration Regime and the Freedom of Movement Along the Balkan Route

This thesis explores the tension between repression and protection in the governance of migration along the Balkan Route. Through a critical analysis of the European migration system, it investigates how the right to freedom of movement is systematically restricted for people on the move. Combining desk research with fieldwork conducted during a journey from Trieste to Athens, the study examines the legal, political, and humanitarian dynamics at play in key countries along the route. Drawing from interviews, reports, and on-site observations, the thesis aims to highlight the consequences of EU and national policies on the lives of migrants, and to challenge dominant narratives of security and deterrence.