Europe is facing an existential challenge: can it still choose its own migration policy, or is it doomed to endure uncontrolled flows dictated by criminal networks, activist NGOs, and European institutions disconnected from reality?

Europe’s Migration Policy: A Double Standard

Faced with growing migratory pressure, European countries are responding in starkly different ways. Italy under Giorgia Meloni and Germany led by Friedrich Merz have taken concrete measures to control their borders. Italy has succeeded in reducing illegal entries from North Africa by 60%, while Germany has reinstated internal border controls and cut federal subsidies to NGOs complicit in migrant trafficking.

In contrast, France under Emmanuel Macron remains stuck in inertia and denial, refusing even to acknowledge the existence of a migration problem. Macron embodies a technocratic vision where the concept of national borders is simply irrelevant.

The Divide Between Elites and the People: The Migration Cost in France

This denial highlights a growing rift between governing elites and the aspirations of European peoples. In Germany, the rise of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), now the country’s second-largest political force, reflects widespread rejection of uncontrolled immigration. Even the traditional Christian-Democratic right has been forced to recognize this shift in public sentiment.

In France, however, the authorities continue to ignore the growing frustration of citizens facing the economic, social, and security consequences of mass immigration. Immigration is imposed from above, without regard for the democratic will of the people.

In France, Immigration Remains Overwhelmingly Social

Contrary to official narratives, France does not experience significant labor migration. Only 15 to 17% of residence permits are issued for professional reasons—similar to the share granted to those with refugee status. The vast majority of residence permits fall under other categories: family reunification, humanitarian grounds, or various forms of regularisation.

This “social welfare immigration” places immense pressure on public finances and weakens France’s social model, fueling resentment among a population that increasingly feels abandoned.

Asylum and Migration Pact: Institutionalised Powerlessness

The new EU Asylum and Migration Pact—supported by Paris but rejected by several member states—enshrines European powerlessness. Rather than preventing illegal entry, it organizes the redistribution of migrants across the Union, effectively legalizing what began as unlawful entry.

Yet between 70% and 80% of asylum seekers in Europe have their claims rejected. The Pact merely sustains an absurd system where setting foot on European soil is enough to trigger quasi-automatic rights that are almost impossible to revoke.

Frontex: An Agency in Need of Reform to Protect Borders

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has become a symbol of this drift—paralyzed by a human rights ideology that undermines its mission. Instead of defending Europe’s borders, the agency’s operations are obstructed by “fundamental rights monitors” who prevent any form of firmness against illegal migration.

To regain control, Europe must overhaul Frontex’s governance, remove pro-immigration profiles, and restore operational leadership to law enforcement, border guards, and coast guards. Only strong political will can end institutionalised powerlessness and restore the sovereignty of nation-states.

In a multipolar world facing shared threats, several speakers called for a stronger partnership between these two strategic players.

• Thierry Mariani, MEP (Patriots for Europe), highlighted that India is the world’s most populous nation, an economic powerhouse, and a country that shares with Europe core values of sovereignty, security, and the defense of nations.
• Shazia Ilmi, spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), spoke about India’s “civilizational revival” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing the need for India to reclaim its cultural sovereignty while embracing modernity.
• Ram Divedi, President of the Kutniti Foundation, presented the Atmanirbhar Bharat doctrine aimed at strengthening India’s industrial and economic self-reliance in response to global supply chain vulnerabilities.
• Rohit Bansal, Group Head of Communications at Reliance Industries, showcased India’s digital sovereignty and inclusive growth, highlighting the success of the technological revolution driven by JIO.

All speakers emphasized the need to deepen economic, strategic, and cultural ties between Europe and India to build a partnership based on sovereignty, security, and respect for identities.

Watch the full replay.

Thierry Mariani argues for a strong and clear partnership between Europe and India — too often overlooked in favor of global players like China or the United States.

In this interview, he emphasizes that India is now the world’s most populous country, a rising economic and technological power, and a nation that shares with Europe core values like sovereignty, national identity, and a multipolar global order.

In the face of shared threats, including Islamist terrorism, and future tech challenges, closer India–Europe ties are not optional but vital. This partnership is a long-term investment in sovereignty and mutual strength.

Historically, India has been seen as a service-oriented economy. However, over the past decade, the country has strategically pivoted toward industrialisation. In 2014, the “Make in India” initiative was launched to boost domestic manufacturing and reinforce India’s industrial foundation.

The Covid-19 crisis marked a turning point in India’s economic thinking. It revealed the fragility of global supply chains and the dangers of overdependence on external actors. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat doctrine, which translates to “self-reliant India.”

The goal? To build full-spectrum industrial sovereignty. For each strategic sector—from raw materials to final products like semiconductors or electric vehicles—India aims to localise the entire value chain. The idea is not protectionist closure, but internal capability: whatever is consumed in India should also be produced in India, whether by domestic or foreign companies operating on Indian soil.

This model stands in contrast to Europe’s trajectory since the 1990s. Once a global manufacturing hub, Europe progressively offshored its industrial capacity to Asia. While this may have cut costs in the short term, it has undermined Europe’s technological autonomy and long-term sovereignty.

India thus emerges as a natural partner for European nations seeking to rebuild their strategic independence. Contrary to assumptions often made in Brussels, most of the world—across Asia, Latin America, and Africa—adopts a deeply sovereignist approach to globalisation. India is no exception.

In this view, sovereignty is not regression—it is the foundation of political and economic freedom. It enables nations to protect their independence and ensure their ability to act. For Indians, partnering with a sovereign Europe would be a logical and welcome step. Between two sovereignist spaces, a true civilisational partnership can emerge—based on identity, resilience, and freedom of action in a changing world.

Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shazia Ilmi speaks for an India that proudly reclaims its civilizational identity while embracing global leadership.

In this interview, she highlights the core principles of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision: cultural sovereignty in the face of Islamist radicalism, and strategic self-reliance through economic resilience and national pride.

The Atmanirbhar Bharat doctrine exemplifies India’s ambition to stand on its own feet: by producing locally, strengthening domestic industry, and empowering its people. It is a sovereignty of inclusion, not retreat — and one that looks confidently to the future.

In this interview, Rohit Bansal, Group Head of Communications at Reliance Industries, explains how India is asserting itself as a sovereign digital power.

He begins by emphasizing how the story of Reliance — founded by Dhirubhai Ambani — is deeply intertwined with the story of modern India. Through its subsidiary JIO, now the leading mobile telecom operator in the country, Reliance has enabled nearly 488 million Indians to access 4G connectivity. This marks a true technological democratization. Today, India records over 450 million digital transactions per day via UPI (Unified Payment Interface), a system designed to make online payments accessible, even in rural areas.

Bansal highlights a central idea: technology has empowered the people. Thanks to digital access, millions of lower-income Indians have built a credit history and gained access to financial services that were once out of reach.

Finally, he points out that India’s ambition extends beyond its borders. The country aims to develop not only its own capabilities, but also to offer leadership rooted in shared ideals — a powerful message in a fragmented geopolitical era.

“JIO gave people the power. It democratized access to technology.”

A testimony to India’s new digital ambition: inclusive, sovereign, and future-focused.