This essay aims to elucidate the causal relationship between the erection of a physical barrier
separating the Balkans from Turkey, specifically the border wall in Evros, and the resulting shift of
migrant flows toward perilous sea routes. Particularly striking in the depiction of Europe’s
migration crisis are the distressing scenes of overcrowded boats set against the backdrop of the deep
blue sea. The decision to construct this barrier was ostensibly aimed at stemming the tide of illegal
migration. Rooted in Greece’s aspirations to integrate into the Schengen area, the growing influence
of far-right political factions, and the propagation of a discourse steeped in suspicion and
xenophobia, this decision finds its origins in a convergence of factors that served to legitimize the
rhetoric of securitization. The focus here is on how racist rhetoric and the enactment of similar laws
can legitimize murderous practices and constructions, such as the wall in Evros, at the expense of
both migrants’ lives and the moral foundations upon which our societies are believed to be based.

The Schengen agreement, a cornerstone of European integration, ostensibly seeks to dismantle
internal border controls while fortifying external frontiers to safeguard internal security. This
paradigm underscores a perceived threat emanating from beyond Europe’s borders, effectively
conflating migration issues into threats to Europe’s security. When examining Schengen policies we
observe that, ‘More often than not, a discussion about migration naturally spills over into questions
about security, and vice versa’1. Examining the criteria member states must meet to gain entry into
Schengen reveals the perceptual connection between migration and securitization. All four
‘condition for joining the Schengen area’2relate to border control and interstate police cooperation,
integrating national security discourses into the broader European framework. I remind that national
security in the European framework is identified with protection from suspicious non-European
‘others’ including asylum seekers, who have a right to reach the border to request asylum.