This book investigates the intersection of European Union legal frameworks and the social realities of mass migration within the continent. Author Loïc Azoulai, a recognized scholar in European law, compiles a series of essays that examine the allocation of institutional powers, the complexities of external cooperation with third-party nations, and the development of international legal norms governing human movement. The work provides a structured analysis of how legal mechanisms attempt to manage or respond to the pressures of migration.

Legal scholars and practitioners frequently cite this collection as a significant contribution to the understanding of EU migration governance. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for an audience familiar with European legal structures and institutional theory.