Framing Trust in Immigration Discourse: A Comparative Analysis of EU Parliamentary Proceedings

This study examines how trust is framed in European Parliamentary proceedings on immigration, with a focus on the divergent narratives employed by political groups. Immigration remains a contentious issue in EU policymaking, where trust serves as a critical lens through which political actors negotiate competing priorities, including border security, humanitarian obligations, and integration policies. By analyzing discourse patterns across parliamentary debates, this study reveals the centrality of trust—both in governance structures and in intergroup relations—in shaping immigration narratives. Key findings highlight significant variation in how political groups frame trust in their discourse. Progressive and centrist groups tend to emphasize trust in multilateral governance and institutional mechanisms, framing the EU as a guarantor of collective solutions to migration challenges. Their narratives frequently link trust to transparency, accountability, and adherence to human rights principles, underscoring the need for solidarity and equitable burden-sharing among member states. In contrast, conservative and nationalist groups often frame trust through the lens of security and national sovereignty. Their discourse portrays institutional mechanisms as inadequate or overreaching, fostering distrust in the EU’s capacity to safeguard borders or address local concerns. Trust, in this framing, becomes conditional on reinforcing national control over immigration policies and limiting external interference. The analysis also uncovers how the timing of crisis—such as migration surges or geopolitical tensions—amplify these divergent framings, leading to intensified polarization within parliamentary proceedings. While some actors use these moments to advocate for greater EU cohesion, others exploit them to reinforce narratives of institutional failure. By unpacking these discursive strategies, the study offers a deeper understanding of the role of trust in parliamentary immigration debates. It highlights the dual function of trust as both a rhetorical device and a substantive issue that influences policymaking and public perceptions. The findings underscore the need for greater attention to the interplay between trust, political ideology, and institutional governance in shaping EU immigration discourse. This presentation contributes to scholarly and policy discussions on trust in democratic institutions, offering insights into how political actors navigate and reshape trust in response to one of the EU’s most pressing challenges.