Europe’s immigration divide: multidimensional responsibility-sharing as a solution?

Immigration poses a fundamental challenge for the European Union, with deep political divisions complicating efforts to achieve effective collective governance. One proposed response is multidimensional responsibility-sharing, in which member states engage in European migration governance through different types of contributions aligned with their capacities and preferences. To what extent can such an approach overcome Europe’s divide on immigration and mobilise public support? Drawing on original survey data from six EU member states, we assess the potential for multidimensional responsibility-sharing by first mapping citizens’ evaluations of different contribution types and, second, analysing whether these preferences reflect countries’ positions in the migration regime or individual ideological orientations. Our findings show broad support for responsibility-sharing and clear differentiation between contribution types: refugee relocation is least preferred, whereas financial contributions and joint border control are more widely accepted. Preference patterns, however, are remarkably consistent across member states and driven primarily by ideology rather than structural characteristics of national contexts. Consequently, the scope for complementary national specialisation in European migration governance is limited. While multidimensional responsibility-sharing may facilitate political adoption of a common policy, it provides limited practical leverage for overcoming Europe's divide on actual contributions to European migration governance.移民问题是欧盟（European Union, EU）面临的根本性挑战，深刻的政治分歧令其达成高效集体治理的努力陷入困境。针对这一难题，有方案提出采用多维责任分担（multidimensional responsibility-sharing）模式：各成员国依据自身能力与偏好，通过不同类型的投入参与欧盟移民治理。此种模式能否在多大程度上弥合欧洲在移民议题上的分歧，并凝聚公众支持？本研究依托六个欧盟成员国的一手调研数据，从两个维度评估多维责任分担模式的应用潜力：其一，勾勒民众对各类投入方式的评价图景；其二，分析这些偏好究竟反映了各国在移民治理体系中的立场，还是个体的意识形态倾向。研究结果显示，公众对责任分担模式整体持有广泛支持，且对各类投入方式的偏好存在显著差异：难民重新安置（refugee relocation）最不受欢迎，而财政投入与联合边境管控（joint border control）则更易获得广泛认可。但各成员国的民众偏好模式却惊人地一致，且主要由意识形态而非国家语境的结构性特征所驱动，因此欧盟移民治理中各国开展互补性专业化分工的空间极为有限。尽管多维责任分担模式或能推动共同政策在政治层面获得采纳，但它在弥合欧洲在实际投入欧盟移民治理的分歧上，所能发挥的实际作用十分有限。